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WAR RELIEF WORK 

IN 

OLD LOUISIANA 



BY 

Mrs. GEORGE B. PENROSE 



HIMEBAUGH & BROWNE 

NEW YORK 
PUBLISHERS 

1919 






Copyrighted 1919 



Jon "'-*■ i <^ ' •^ 



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I dedicate this book to 



"iig Earner §on" 

And to Every Mother's Son who has given his 
all to his country with the assurance "That h« 
who loses his life yet finds it." 



"0' Boy could I but take the hours 

That once I spent with thee 

And coin them all in minted gold 

What should I purchase that would hold 

Their worth in joy to me? 

Oh! Boy another hour with thee." 



PREFACE 




HE inspiration of this book came about in the 
most unusual way and strange and unex- 
pected incidents altered the whole course of 
my life. It was just previous to one of 
my annual visits to Washington. I was ap- 
pointed a delegate from New Orleans to attend the Annual 
Convention of the Needle Work Guild of America, on May 7th, 
1914, held in the Convention Hall of the Raleigh Hotel, 
Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C. Mrs. John Wood 
Stewart of New Jersey was the founder of the Needle Work 
Guild, Mrs. Levi P. Morton, of New York was Honorary 
President and Mrs. Truman Newberry of Detroit, Michigan, 
was then and is now our National President. The Needle 
Work Guild of America is strongly sympathetic with the 
American Red Cross and does war relief work and takes part 
in the same activities and was affiliated with the Red Cross 
in the year of 1907. 

The first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson was a member and held 
a position of honor in the Guild and Miss Mabel Boardman of 
Washington, D. C, was not only a member, but through her ac- 
complishments as a talented speaker was delegated to address 
our Convention upon the urgent necessity of Red Cross Prepa- 
rations in view of the far away, distant rumbling sounds of 
Mexican disturbances and other possible "intrusions." Her 
eloquent words filled me full of Red Cross inspirations and 
lasting enthusiasm, which I bore in mind until the opportuni- 
ties came for me to use my efforts in bringing the Red Cross 
to the whole Southern States. 



As a finale to her splendid address, Miss Boardman then 
extended an invitation to visit the White House and see the 
wedding decorations, through the courtesy of Mrs. Woodrow 
Wilson, who was a member of the Guild. 

The wedding of Miss Eleanore Randolph Wilson and Mr. 
William Gibbs McAdoo had taken place on May 7th, 1914, 
in the early morning and we were asked to see the White 
House in all its gorgeous array just before noon of the next 
day. The floral decorations were impressingly beautiful, with 
a great profusion of dog wood blossoms clustering everywhere 
and masses of American Beauty roses in the huge mantel 
vases forming pedestals on either side of the mantel where 
we were told the ceremony had taken place. Those always 
loved American beauty roses — I will ever remember the sweet- 
ness of their perfume and the lasting impression they made 
on me everywhere I turned after the White House wedding. 
I was full of the beauties of the day, the romance of the 
wedding, and that night, I had a dream of the Red Cross 
Work, that came to be a reality. 



BY 

MRS. GEO. B. PENROSE 

"The pen is mightier than the sword" 
Goes hand in hand at the given word 
One to strike for justice sake 
The sword to fight whate'ers at stake 
For might or right and the bright light 
Of freedom for America and the world. 




CHAPTER I 

OR a long time the care of the enemy wounded 
was a question of humanity, an international 
legal duty in regard to it did not exist. There 
were, to be sure, at times in the centuries 
anterior to ours, agreements between army 
chiefs having for their pui-pose to protect the sick and 
wounded, establishments which gave them shelter, and the 
personnel which cared for them. These agreements which 
were temporary ones, and limited to certain particular cases, 
were optional. The need of sanitary organization, accepted 
by all powers, was particularly felt during the war of the rev- 
olution and of the Empire. It is said that every Switzer is 
born with an idea of a new society in his head. That is, of 
course, an ironical way of expressing what comes very near 
being the truth, for the simple thought and principle of Swiss 
life is that of a society for mutual aid and well being. This 
same quality has been the incentive and inspiration for organi- 
zations like that of the Red Cross that have been of incalcul- 
able importance. The Red Cross itself world wide in the 
reach of its beneficiaries, owes its inception to the society of 
the public utilities, the kindly parent of so many good works, 
The first person to have conceived the idea appears to have 
been Monsieur Henry Dunant, a Genevese physician, who was 

7 



JHg fKonograpli 



following the military operations as a spectator, especially in 
the battle of Solferino. The suffering, which he witnessed 
there, led to his publishing a book called "Recollections of 
Solferino", which attracted great attention. He maintained, 
as a thesis, that the official help service could not possibly 
succor the wounded properly, that private charity should lend 
its assistance and prepare for that purpose in advance during 
time of peace. This idea aroused the enthusiasm of a group 
of men of eminently practical ideas and notably, Monsieur 
Moynier, President of the local society of public utilities and 
started an agitation, which spread rapidly over Europe in the 
form of what they termed "Neutralizing the Sick Wagons on 
the Field of Battle." The idea was so enthusiastically taken 
up and pressed with so much earnestness upon the various 
governments of Europe, with the full concurrence of the 
powers that in 1863 a conference was called of fourteen 
Nations at which the several countries were represented by 
delegates, summoned at the instance of the Swiss Federal 
Council. This council was fittingly held in Geneva in August 
1864 and the Convention of Geneva was drawn up and signed as 
in international Code on the 22nd of that month. The nobility 
of the work set forth is now of world knowledge ; and the Inter- 
national Society known as the Red Cross Society was es- 
tablished as a correlary to the Geneva Convention which has 
since been adherred to by the leading powers of the civilized 
world for the amelioration of the sick and wounded in war- 
fare on land and water; and is now published under the title 
"International Red Cross Convention for the Amelioration of 

8 



g ilHnnDgrapli 



the Conditions of the Wounded and Sick in the Armies in the 
Field," and made part of the Field Service Regulations, United 
States Army, 1914. After a careful study of the situation 
hopes were expressed that there should be in each country 
a single society with a Central Committee, and further a cer- 
tain guarantee should be given to such society in order that 
they might, in full security, exercise their kindly purpose. 
The work of this conference has had a great influence for 
everything which has been done along the lines of these 
ideas. But the question of the guarantee to be given to 
these societies was beyond the limits of private enterprise; 
it entailed international regulations and a diplomatic confer- 
ence which alone could make of this hope a reality. It is to 
this meeting that the voluntary Red Cross Society owes its 
organization; the later conference merely recognized them 
and legislated in their behalf. 

The American National Red Cross Society has been char- 
tered by Congress and has by recent additional legislation 
been brought in touch with the army. The celebrated con- 
vention of Geneva of August 22nd, 1864, which remained in 
force until the ratification of the Convention of 1906, was 
first signed by France, and is today accepted by almost all 
the states of the world ; and more especially after the terrible 
practical lesson and example of the Battle of Koeniggratz. 
Austria, not having as yet adhered to the convention, Austrian 
doctors, in fear of being made prisoners by the Prussian 
Army, abandoned their wounded, whose sufferings were con- 
siderably increased by this interruption of care and the ulti- 
mate in efficiency of sanitary measures. 

9 



M^ iJloitograpli 



During the Crimean War (1854) history records the 
terrible suffering of the sick and wounded soldiers lying in 
the great hospitals back of the British lines, and the terrible 
condition of these hospitals overrun with disease and choked 
with filth. Florence Nightingale, born of English parents, 
heir to vast Derbyshire estates, nevertheless prepared herself 
for work which was principally among English hospitals and 
had for its purpose the amelioration of the suffering. In 
November 1854, Florence Nightingale was at the hospital 
at Scutari. There were two thousand patients with desperate 
conditions facing her. The task of reforming, cleaning and 
caring for the army of the sick was gigantic and one to strike 
terror to the souls of most men, but, this high bred English 
Woman with her band of thirty-eight nurses, met the problem 
undismayed and as if by magic, a new intelligence swept 
through the hospitals. Idolized by the soldiers, respected by 
all when the war was over, she returned to a peaceful English 
country home to live a retired quiet life, and in her old age 
further devoting her great fortune, wonderful capability and 
grand woman's heart to the life of preparing other women for 
ministration to her stricken countrymen. In the 19th cen- 
tury she was considered the founder of modem mercy. An 
English soldier who had been wounded in the Scutari in 1855, 
wrote of Florence Nightingale from the barracks hospital, 
of the great happiness it was to the soldiers to see her on 
her way through the hospital with a kind word to each one, 
or a nod in passing, just to satisfy herself they were being 

10 



mg fJIonograpli 



looked after. Their happiness in seeing her watchful care 
of them during their period of convalescence gave them a 
feeling of confidence as to their well-being. When the phy- 
sician had finished their duties of the day, and had retired 
for the night, and when silence and darkness had settled, 
and the stillness of the night had come to the sleeping 
soldiers, "She would be observed with a little lamp in her 
hand making the solitary rounds, and as her slender form 
glided through the corridor many a poor fellow's face softened 
at the sight of her, with love and gratitude in their hearts for 
this ministering angel. "For this wonderful devotion to the 
wounded she inspired like enthusiasm in others, and it was said 
that when quite young, Henry Dunant was full of deep ad- 
miration for the work of this unselfish and noble woman, 
and she became his inspiration. Certain it was that her 
Crimean activities gave a direct impetus to Dunant's efforts. 
One of Longfellow's most famous poems was: 

"THE LADY OF THE LAMP" 

"Lo, in that hour of misery, 
A lady with a lamp I see 
Pass through the glimmering gloom 
And flit from room to room, 
And slow as in a dream of bliss, 
The speechless sufferer turns to kiss 
Her shadow as it falls 
Upon the darkening walls." 

The lamp became the symbol of the light of knowledge 
which Florence Nightingale shed, and to-day one of the 

11 



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medals of the Red Cross is the figure of The Lady of the 
Lamp. 

In the year 1860 the Civil War broke out and at that 
time the care of the sick and the wounded was under the 
charge of what was known as the "Sanitary Commission." 
There were many women besides those regularly authorized 
who devoted their time to the same cause. "Among those 
were Dorothea Dix, and Mother Bickerdyke, who were wonder- 
ful in their care and watchfulness of the sick and wounded, 
and were strict disciplinarians. Dorothea Dix was known for 
her splendid work for reform of prisons. When war broke 
out she offered her services which continued with untiring 
zeal during the four years of the Civil War. Later the Secre- 
tary of War asked her what the nation could do to thank 
her for her work. She answered, "I would like a flag." Two 
beautiful flags were given her which she later presented to 
Harvard College. Another now stands in her memory over 
the doors of "Memorial Hall." Mother Bickerdyke was 
another woman known in the Civil War for her will and fear- 
lessness. She was spoken of upon one occasion as having 
visited the hospital at eleven o'clock in the morning, and 
found, that owing to the late hours kept by an officer of 
high degree the patients had had no breakfast. There was 
no half-way measure as to the reprimand the officer should 
have received, but she ordered off his shoulder straps, and 
in three days he was discharged from the service. He turned 
to General Sherman, in charge of the army, for redress, 

12 



UJg iHanngrapli 



who remarked upon listening to the tale of woe, "If the com- 
plaint has come from Mother Bickerdyke, I can do nothing for 
you, she ranks me." 

During our own Civil War 1861-1866 the need of the ser- 
vices and succor now given by the International Red Cross 
was bitterly felt when again it fell to the lot of other noble 
women to second the efforts of the organized military sani- 
tary formations and establishments of the army in bringing 
aid and comfort to the sick and wounded and ameliorating 
the conditions surrounding them. 

A third worker for the soldiers was Clara Barton. She 
was born in Oxford, Mass., about 1830 and educated in Clinton, 
N. Y. When the Civil War began she determined to devote 
herself to the care of the wounded soldiers on the 
battlefield. She was appointed by General Butler in 1864 "lady 
in charge" of the hospitals at the front of the Army of the 
James. In 1865 she went to Andersonville, Ga., to identify 
and mark the graves of the Union prisoners buried there, 
and in the same year was placed by President Lincoln, in 
charge of the search for missing men of the Union Armies. 

Standing one day in the station at Washington, she saw, 
as had Dorothea Dix, in Baltimore, a trainload of wounded 
soldiers roll in. The men were in a dreadful condition, in 
pain, hunger, cold, and filth with almost no nurses and no 
doctors to care for them, Clara Barton had them carried to 
the hospital where she saw to the washing and binding of 

13 



iMg HSonograiili 



their wounds, fed them clean, wholesome food, and wrote 
letters for them to their families. 

The boys' mothers heard of Clara Barton through their 
letters and wrote, sending supplies of food and clothing which 
she distributed. Later she obtained a pass from the Govern- 
ment to go behind the lines. There in the midst of dirt and 
disease she stayed during the remainder of the war, nursing 
Northerners and Southerners alike. 

She lectured during the year 1866 and 1867 on her war ex- 
periences, and afterwards went to Switzerland for her health, 
and here for the first time she heard of the Red Cross Society. 
At the beginning of the Franco-German War in 1870, she 
assisted the Grand Duchess of Baden in the preparation of 
military hospitals, and gave the Red Cross Society much aid 
during the war. At the joint request of the German authori- 
ties and the Strassburg "Comite de Secours, she superin- 
tended the supplying of work to the poor of that city in 1871, 
after the siege, and in 1872 she had charge of the public dis- 
tribution of supplies to the destitute people of Paris. At the 
close of the war she was decorated with the Golden Cross of 
Baden and the Iron Cross of Germany. In 1884 as 
the official head of the society, Miss Barton, had charge of 
the expedition for the relief of the sufferers from the 
flood in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and in the same 
year she was the representative of the government at 
the Red Cross convention in Geneva, Switzerland. She 
was also a delegate to the International Peace Convention at 

14 



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Geneva in 1884, and was Special Commissioner for foreign ex- 
hibits at the New Orleans Exhibition. 

Finally in the year of July 1881 a Red Cross was or- 
ganized and incorporated in the District of Columbia known as 
the American Association of the Red Cross. Miss Clara Bar- 
ton became the first President. The badge at that time de- 
cided upon for general use was the Red Cross Insignia, on a 
back ground of white, standing out as a badge of humanity. 

During the Spanish-American war (1898) Miss Barton 
visited Siboney, Santiago, Province of Cuba, and from that 
place directed the activities of the Red Cross service. 



15 



CHAPTER II 




FTER giving a resume of the origin and incep- 
tion of the Red Cross Society by way of re- 
freshing the memories of those who may not 
have had the time or the inclination to re- 
view the war activities of so many years ago, 
it appears to me that it is not ill advised to mention here the 
earnest work and hearty co-operation of Red Cross activities 
in New Orleans (even prior to the organization of the present 
Chapter) that was done so quietly and modestly that I have 
not been able to compel an open confession, and yet, I would 
not add it to this Monograph if I did not believe it to be true. 
Although there was no permanent organization in former 
years, the first work of the American Red Cross in Louisiana 
was during the Spanish-American War, when Mr. Clarence 
Lowe of New Orleans, assisted by several others who worked 
with him under advice from President McKinley, who then 
directed the Red Cross in behalf of those who had gone into 
the service of their country. This was in the year of 1898, 
when a well equipped body of men left New Orleans to fight 
in the Spanish-American War, and arrived in Cuba on 
Christmas morning. 

As I said before, there was no permanent organization 

16 



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then, but only temporary relief work to aid those who had 
so gallantly answered the first call in the Spanish-American 
Crisis. 

A report of the situation was made in the Senate, and 
after a personal investigation, arousing much sympathy, 
President McKinley, through John Sherman then Secretary of 
State, sent out a general appeal for funds, clothing and pro- 
visions, for distribution through General Fitzhugh Lee, then 
the American Consul General of Havana. This, was 
in the year of 1898, when there was great destitu- 
tion among the natives and the most critical situation imagin- 
able calling for humanitarian work. Those who offered their 
services were greatly handicapped by un-preparedness, and 
the difficulty of the situation in reaching those in need of 
supplies and medical attention. At that time the activities 
and the sending of equipment was accomplished under direc- 
tions of the Central Cuban Relief Committee, who later char- 
tered for the Red Cross, the Steamer, State of Texas, used in 
transportation of Surgical Equipment and all necessary 
articles for relief. On account of the close proximity to the 
scene of disturbance. Many of the men from New Orleans 
were among the first to go, and enter active service. Among 
this number was Doctor Hamilton Jones, who was not only an 
eminent physician himself, but came of a long line of ancestors 
distinguished in the medical profession. He gave his services 

17 



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in behalf of stricken humanity. It was most interesting to 
hear of his duties on shipboard, and how he equipped for his 
own use a diminutive temporary hospital in one corner of 
the ship, for quick service, and to give relief where it was 
necessary. Some of his personal experiences were related at 
the first large meeting of the Red Cross in New Orleans on 
July the 1st, 1916. 

WHILE THE RED CROSS BANNER UNFURLED IN THE 
SOUTH, WITH MEXICO ALL IN A WHIRL 

Telegrams from the New York Herald issued Nov. 22nd, 1918. 

March 10th, 1916. 

President orders troops to Mexico to catch Villa, Dead or Alive- 
Outlaw Band again Cross Border. 

"FRANCISCO VILLA ALIVE OR DEAD." 

This is the edict of the Government of the United States in State- 
ment issued by President Wilson immediately after a meeting of 
the Cabinet to-day. 

March the 11th, 1916. 

"The adequate force will be sent at once in pursuit of Villa, with 
the single object of capturing him, and putting a stop to his forays. 
This can be done, and will be done in an entirely friendly aid of the 
Constitute Authorities of Mexico, and with respect for the Sov- 
ereignity of THAT COUNTRY." 

Probably (80,000) Men in the Expedition under arrangements that 
were perfected by General Hugh L. Scott, and the General Staff of 
the army, the Expeditionary Forces constituting not less than 50,000 
men, probably 80,000. 

Major General (Funston) indicated to the War Department his de- 
sire to personally take charge of the Expeditionary Forces. 

18 



iflg iJlano^rajili 



The only formal statement issued by the War Department, con- 
cerning the character of the Expedition was this: 

"There is no intention of entering Mexico in force. A sufficient body 
of mobile troops will be sent in to locate, and disperse, or capture 
the band or bands that attacked "Columbia." As soon as the forces 
of the "de facto" Government, can take control of the situation, any 
forces of the United States men remaining in Mexico will of course, 
be with-drawn. The forces of the United States NOW ON the Bor- 
der will be immediately recruited; but only for the purpose of safe 
guarding the territory of the United States from further raids. 

United States troops remained on the Border a little over ten months 
trying to restore order. 

About the 6th of July relations began to grow more peaceful, due 
to Gonzales friendly note and text. 

Friendly commissioners to pass on Border issue were suggested 
Saturday, July 15th, when the United States was ready to submit 
disputes to "International Body." 



The President of the United States, by right of his ex- 
alted position also becomes the President of the Red Cross, 
and so it is that the Honorable Woodrow Wilson, personally 
directs all of the activities through the present war crisis. 
He deems the situation so exceedingly critical that he has 
sent an urgent personal message to our Chairman, Mr. Frank 
B. Hayne, which was read at the Executive Meeting just 
before war was declared, to secure additional funds to be 
equal to any emergency that may arise. 

19 



UJg iSl0n05ra|ilj 



It has now been nearly three years since the beginning 
of this wonderful war relief work in New Orleans, and suc- 
cess is due to every woman who has contributed her time 
and energies while doing her bit, as well as to every man who 
has fulfilled his share of the contract towards building up 
this great humanitarian work, and to them I feel that I should 
make clear any part that I may have taken in its organiza- 
tion. It takes many units to make a whole, and to the com- 
bined efforts of the many working branches and auxiliaries in 
city, town and country parishes have helped to produce the 
present wonderful organization. 

It may be of interest to those who have worked for the 
Red Cross, as members of the Executive Committee, to know 
that about two years ago, in April of 1916, there was a meet- 
ing of the National Nurses Convention of the American Red 
Cross, held in New Orleans, at the Grunewald Hotel, where 
the Nurses' Association had their headquarters. Miss Jane 
Delano, of Washington, D. C, who is the Chairman of the 
Nursing Service, and on several advisory boards in Washing- 
ton, sent me a message to the effect that she desired a per- 
sonal interview with me. This message was given me over 
the phone by Miss Daspit, one of the Red Cross nurses of 
New Orleans. Being rather surprised at the request, coming 
as it were, from a perfect stranger, I lost no time in calling 
at the Grunewald, and was told that Miss Mabel Boardman 
of Washington, with whom I had enjoyed a casual acquaint- 

20 



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ance, had suggested my name as one who might be interested 
in the organization of the New Orleans Chapter of the Ameri- 
can Red Cross, and of placing the American Red Cross in the 
entire state of Louisiana. After going over the situation very 
seriously with Miss Delano, frankly admitting my inexperi- 
ence in the work of the Red Cross, we both realized the great 
necessity of beginning with as little delay as possible, secur- 
ing every means in my power towards bringing this great work 
of humanity to the Southern States, owing to the seriousness 
of the Mexican situation at that particular time, and the im- 
pending crisis then hanging over the entire country and the 
city of New Orleans in particular, as at that moment the 
Washington Artillery had received their call to go to the 
Mexican border ; the Washington Artillery meaning, of course, 
our very own boys. 

The gravity of the situation was brought forcibly to 
me, and I therefore promised my heartiest co-operation. The 
first step I took with as little delay as possible was a direct 
appeal to Washington, asking to be fully equipped and to be 
given the necessary information on the subject. This being 
done with only a few weeks intervening, I then wrote a more 
explanatory appeal to Washington, for authorization to begin 
the Red Cross Work in Louisiana. The telegram and letter, 
copies of which I will insert are in answer to my appeal. 

21 



lEg ilHaunQraijlj 



WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM. 
167 AN 



Dated Washington, D. C. 

July 4, 1916 

Mrs. George B Penrose, 
2302 Prytania Street, 
New Orleans, La. 

Answering yours of the 3rd, I am sending you letter of authori- 
zation. 

CHARLES J. O'CONNOR 

Washington, D. C. 
Dec. 1, 1916 
Pursuant to written call issued and signed by Mrs. George 
B. Penrose, July 6th, 1916, and in accordance with authoriza- 
tion to organize a Chapter of the American Red Cross, re- 
ceived from Charles J. O'Connor, Assistant Director General, 
Civilian Relief, A. R. C, under date of July 4, 1916, reading 
as follows : 

"Mrs. Geo. B. Penrose, 
2302 Prytania Street, 
New Orleans, La. 

Dear Madam: 

We have your telegram of July 3rd, asking for authorization 
to organize a Chapter. 

You and the persons named in your letter of June 6th to Miss 
Boardman, are hereby authorized to organize the New Orleans Chap- 
ter of the American Red Cross with jurisdiction over the City of 
New Orleans, La.; A meeting may be called, officers and an Executive 
Committee elected and the organization completed. Upon receipt 
of a statement giving the name and addresses of the officers elected 
an official letter of recognition will be issued to the new Chapter. 

22 



ma iJlonogtapli 



The officers are Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. 
The Executive Committee, which is required by the regulations, will 
direct the affairs of the Chapter. 

We would suggest that in the organization you co-operate close- 
ly with the Chairman of the Committee on Red Cross Nursing Ser- 
vice, Miss Daspit, and the members of the State Board in New 
Orleans, who are: Mr. John J. Gannon, Treasurer, Mr. John M. Park- 
er, Mr. Charles Janvier and Mr. W. R. Irby, members. 

For a permanent success and the securing of a large member- 
ship it will be found that the active participation of business men 
will be essential. The experience of a number of Chapters during 
our present membership campaign has demonstrated this fact. 

We trust that the proposed Chapter will be successfully organ- 
ized and will soon acquire a large membership. 

Very truly yours, 

(Signed) CHARLES J. O'CONNOR, 

Asst. Director General, 

Civilian Relief." 

I lost no time in interesting the aid of my personal friends 
even at this early date, making requests to all with whom I 
came in contact. The summer months were then upon us. 
The time seemed most inopportune for organization of any 
sort. It would be hard for me to tell you, and harder for you 
to realize with what discouragement I met at first, but 
I have always believed in the saying; "there is no such word 
as fail." I began to convince people of the necessity of this 
great humanitarian work. My inspiration finally became 
theirs and one by one the obstacle began to be brushed aside. 
At this particular time I did the entire work without assist- 
ance and incidentally covered the whole state of Louisiana 
with appeals, and I duly authorized posters penetrating even 

23 



iHg iHJano5ra|iI| 



into the most obscure sections, wherever there was a post 
office to be found, or a newspaper to be reached. 
The post offices in question are as follows: 



POST OFFICES 



Orleans Parish 

Algiers 
Little Woods 
New Orleans 
Pontchartrain Grove 

St. Bernard Parish 

Alluvial 
Arabi 
Chalmette 
Mereaux 
Poydras 
St. Bernard 
Violet 
Shell Beach 

Jeflf erson Parish 

Barataria 

Geraty 

Grand Isle 

Gretna 

Harvey 

Kenner 

Lafitte 

Marrero 

McDonoghville 

Waggaman 

Westwego 

Plaquemine Parish 

Buras 
Burwood 
Carlisle 
City Price 
Belair 



Plaquemine Parish 


Plaquemine Parish 


(Continued) 


(Continued) 


Belle Chase 


Taft 


Bertrandville 


Fort St. Philip 


Boothville 


Happy Jack 


Braitwaite 


Home Place 


Dalcour 


Jesuit Bend 


Davant 


Neptune 


Diamond 


Nero 


Empire 


Welcome 


English Turn 
Daisy 


St. James Parish 


Junior 


Burton 


Lawrence 


C entrain 


Myrtle Grove 


Convent 


Nairn 


Feitel 


Naomi 


Gramercy 


Nester 


Hester 


Nicholls 


Lagan 


Olga 


Lauderdale 


Ostrica 


Lutcher 


Phoenix 


Paulina 


Pilot Town 


Remy 


Pointe-a-la-Hache 


St. Amelia 


Port Eads 


St. James 


Potash 


St. Patrick 


Quarantine 


Timberton 


Sunrise 


Union 


Triumph 
Venice 


St. Tammany 


Wills Point 


Parish 


Montz 


Abita Springs 


Paradis 


Alton 


St. Rose 


Blond 


Sellers 


Bonfouca 



24 



Uig ilHanDsrapli 




Post Offices (continued) 


St. Tammany 


St. Tammany 


Terrebone Parish 


Parish 


Parish 


Bourg 


(Continued) 


(Continued) 


Chacahoula 


Galloway 
Goodbee 


Covington 

Florenville 

Folsom 


Chauvin 
Donner 


Honey Island 


Dulac 


Houltonvllle 


St. Charles Parish 


Ellendale 


Hygeia 


Ama 


Falgoust 


Lacombe 


Boutte 


Gibson 


Madisonville 


Hahnville 


Gray 


Mandeville 


Killona 


Houma 


Maud 


La Branche 




Oaklawn 


Luling 


Lafourche Parish 


Onvil 

Pearl River 
Ramsey 


Moberly 

St. John the Baptist 


Allemands 
Ariel 


St. Benedict 


Parish 


Bowie 


St. Tammany 


Edgard 


Delta Farms 


Slidell 


Frenier 


Gheens 


Starling 


Grayville 


Kramer 


Sun 


Laplace 


Lafourche Crossing 


Talisheek 


Lions 


Lockport 


Violin 


Lucy 


Mathews 


Waldheim 


Mount Airy 


Raceland 


Bush 


Reserve 


Rita 


Chinchuba 


Wallace 


Thibodeaux 



Mrs. George B. Penrose, Washington, D. C. 

New Orleans, La. May 18, 1916. 

Dear Mrs. Penrose: 

I was very glad to receive your letter of May 13th, and to 
learn of your interest in the Red Cross. We ought to have a strong 
and representative chapter in New Orleans, and I hope one will be 
organized here. Can you send me a list of a dozen or more of th« 
prominent men in New Orleans, who with you will be willing to take 
up the matter of organizing a chapter. The chapter organization 
belongs under Ernest P. Bicknell, who is just now away from 
Washington, but if you can send me a list of your most prominent 

25 



Hg iJlnnograpli 



citizens who will co-operate with you, I am sure we will be glad 
to assist them to form such a chapter. I am sending you under 
separate cover some literature on the Red Cross that may be of 
help. I was very glad to learn of the work in organizing classes. 
With warmest regards and many thanks for your kind interest and 
help. 

Yours sincerely, 



MABEL T. BOARDMAN 



Mrs. Geo. B. Penrose, May 10, 1916 

New Orleans, La. 
Dear Mrs. Penrose: 

I have recently received your letter together with the clippings 
and various other matters in regard to the work in New Orleans. 
May I first of all congratulate you on your success in organizing 
a Red Cross Chapter and send with this my best wishes. I remem- 
ber with such pleasure our interview at the Grunewald Hotel, and 
shall, watch the progress of the work in New Orleans. The sample 
boxes of surgical dressings have been sent you, and I hope have 
reached you safely by this time. I am more than glad of your 
interest in the work and if I can be of any further service to you, 
will be glad to hear from you. I can well understand how 
you feel with your son leaving for the Border, but know those 
left at home will have ample opportunity to be of service with the 
organization of classes in Elementary Hygiene and Home Care of 
the sick. 

I enclose circular of importance concerning these courses and 
also the names of the Physicians who have been secured to con- 
duct these Special Classes. 

With every best wish for the success of the Chapter in New 
Orleans. 

Believe me. 

Yours sincerely, 
JANE A. DELANO 

Chairman National Committee 
Red Cross Nursing 
Service 
26 



Ulg iKonagrapli 



OTHER LETTERS OF AUTHORITY TO ORGANIZE 

Washington, D. C, Jxme 15th, 1916 
Mrs. George B. Penrose, 
2302 Prytania Street, 
New Orleans, La. 

Dear Mrs. Penrose: 

Your letter of June 6th to Mr. Ernest T. Bicknell concerning 
the organization of a Chapter in New Orleans has been received. 

The letter addressed to Mr. Bicknell by Mr. John M. Parker, re- 
ferred to by you as enclosed in your letter, was not in the letter to 
Mr. Bicknell nor in that of the same date to Miss Boardman. 

The Red Cross appreciates very much the interest that you 
have shown and the service done in securing names of people to 
take up the organization of a Chapter. We can now proceed with 
the matter. The organization of Chapters in Louisiana is directly 
in charge of the Director of the Central Division, Mr. John J. O'Con- 
nor, 112 West Adams Street, Chicago, 111. We have taken this 
matter up with Mr. O'Connor, and you can now secure directions 
for the organization from him. We have asked Mr. O'Connor to 
communicate with you upon this subject. 
Very truly yours, 

CHARLES J. O'CONNOR, 
Asst. Director General, Civilian Relief. 

Mrs. George B. Penrose, June 24th, 1916. 

2302 Prytania Street, 
New Orleans, La. 

My dear Mrs. Penrose: 

After a slight delay your letter of June 6th, to Miss Boardman 
at Washington has been forwai'ded to me for consideration and ad- 
vice. We are much gratified with the list of members which you 
submit. We would like to get a New Orleans chapter under way 
at once, without delay, because of the developments in Mexico. 

New Orleans may be an important hospital base and depot for 
supplies. At any rate it is certain that your city will feel the Mexi- 

27 



IMh Mt^ttQB^npH 



can activity very much. I send you herewith a complete statement 
on method of organizing a New Orleans chapter. If you will send 
me the petition referred to with check to cover the applications of 
the petitioners. I will have approval of it wired you. Can you not 
take this matter up with an important group at once? 

Owing to the fact that you are personally known to Miss 
Boardman and we are assured of a New Orleans chapter being in 
the hands of a responsible group I would like to have you organize 
at the first meeting, elect the officers and directors and send their 
names to me. 

A strong local organization will assure New Orleans of consoli- 
dated work, responsible handling of and accounting for funds and 
high grade work. It will assure the Red Cross of the interest and 
assistance of your important city. 

Eagerly awaiting word from you, I am, 

JOHN J. O'CONNOR, 

Director, Central Division 

After permanent organization had gone into effect, I then 
undertook a new branch of the work, when I became Chair- 
man of Town and Country parishes, the ones that were per- 
sonally covered by me included the parishes of Orleans, As- 
cension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemine, St. 
Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Tangi- 
pahoa, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, St. Mary. 

In August 1917, Miss Lucia Miltenberger became Chair- 
man of Women's Work and with but few changes the officers 
of the chapter remain the same. This list covers the changes. 

MR. FRANK B. HAYNE, J. H. EASTIN, Asst. Secretary 

Chairman LUCIA A. MILTENBERGER, 

Chr. Woman's Work 
MRS. GEORGE B. PENROSE, „^^^ „, '^tt 

Honorarv Chairman WM. MASON SMITH, 

Honorary onairman ^j^^ ^^^ Comm. 

P. S. MORRIS, 1st Vice-Chairman S. A. SEELYE, 

ST. CLAIR ADAMS C^^' ^°«^- °^ Supplies 

2nd Vice-chairman WM. H. HEYL, Cashier 

W. R. IRBY, Treasurer EMILE V. STIER, Secretary 

28 



UJh Hlan09rapl| 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

FRANK B. HAYNE MISS LUCIA MILTENBERGER 

W. R. IRBY S. A. SEELYE 

MRS. GEORGE B. PENROSE BEN BEEKMAN 

S. P. WALMSLEY W. S. PENICK 

CAPT. P. S. MORRIS JOHN A. BADGER 

ST. CLAIR ADAMS ROBERT G. GUERARD 

WM. MASON SMITH EMILE V. STIER 

We have reason to be proud of the personnel of this com- 
mittee and to the great efficiency and the untiring work of 
these men is due the success of the Red Cross in the State of 
Louisiana. 



29 




CHAPTER III 

T the very beginning there were classes 
in First Aid and Elementary Hygiene or- 
ganized, duly authorized by Miss Delano, 
of Washington, under the direction of Dr. 
Isidore Cohn of Touro, Miss R. Williamson 
and Miss Daspit, being authorized by Washington to con- 
duct the examination, which she did, and in due time, 
those who passed these examinations were given a certificate 
sent out by Washington. Incidental to the beginning of this 
work, I would insert these notices of June 29th, 1916, from 
the Times-Picayune and the Daily States of same date, giving 
minute details of the activities that had been covered even in 
that early stage of Red Cross Work in Louisiana. 



"CLIPPINGS FROM TIMES-PICAYUNE AND STATES." 
Many loyal women will give time and labor to care for 
the wounded. 

"While the womanhood of the South principally in the 
states proximate to Mexico — has been busy for the past few 
months laying plans for the launching of those "preparedness" 
activities which afford the only field in which the services of 
the gentler sex are needed, perhaps nowhere else in Dixie, 

30 



Ulg iEonngrapli 



or in the whole country for that matter, have the patriotic 
women thrown their shoulders to the wheel of "preparedness' 
as they have in New Orleans. 

"Headed by Mrs. Geo. B. Penrose, the organization of a 
New Orleans Chapter of the National Red Cross Society has 
been put under way, and classes of assistant nurses have been 
instructed and examined. Mrs. Penrose, three years ago, was 
a visitor in Washington when Miss Mabel Boardman, then 
deeply engaged with the Central Committee of the Red Cross, 
addressed a meeting on the importance of Elementary 
Hygiene, First Aid, and Preparedness among women as well as 
military preparedness among men, in view of the seriousness 
of the Mexican situation. 

"Mrs. Penrose was impressed, and when the National 
Trained Nurses' Association was in convention at New Orleans 
in April of 1916, and she then earnestly took up plans for the 
organization of the New Orleans Chapter of the American 
Red Cross. 

"Miss Jane A. Delano, chairman of the National Red 
Cross Association of Washington, attended the convention 
here, and she highly commended Mrs. Penrose's determina- 
tion to enlist the help of New Orleans men and women. 

"It was Miss Delano's opinion at that time that work 
on the organization of Red Cross chapters in this section of 
the country could not begin too soon, and she persuaded Mrs. 
Penrose to take hold at once as New Orleans is so close to 
Mexico; transportation facilities between this city and the 

31 



mig iKunosrapli 



border are so good, and Red Cross preparedness is of such 
importance, that Miss Delano urged Mrs. Penrose to lose no 
time in soliciting the help of the men and women of this city. 
"This work was begun with great enthusiasm and as a 
result there were two classes of women, each class number- 
ing about twenty, that have taken up instructions under 
nurses and physicians appointed by Washington Red Cross 
headquarters, and have taken the examinations which are to 
fit them as aides to trained nurses. 

"But the forming of these classes has been only a small 
part of the vast work Mrs. Penrose and the women associated 
with her have taken up. 

"The Red Cross chapter of New Orleans will comprise 
many organization of women who will give all their spare time 
throughout the summer to preparing surgical dressings for 
use in the impending war with Mexico. Hospital clothes for 
wounded soldiers, such as pajamas, shirts, bandages, etc., also 
must be made, and already local women have turned out a 
quantity of these necessities. 

"From Red Cross headquarters in Washington models for 
surgical dressings, bandages and clothes have been received 
by Mrs. Penrose, who, in turn issues instructions to the vari- 
ous groups already organized. Other cities in this part of the 
country are doing the same thing, and this Red Cross equip- 
ment will be stored in cities within easy reach of Mexico. 

"For so great and important an undertaking, many more 

82 



ly HHono^raplj 



women are needed as members of the local chapter of the Red 
Cross. New members will not be lacking, however, as this is 
the first call Mrs. Penrose has issued for additions to the ranks 
of the newly launched association. 

"Mrs. Penrose heads the only Red Cross organization in 
New Orleans and the Southern States, and it will be from this 
group that assistant nurses first will be called. Though she 
has met with remarkable success, she feels that too many 
members cannot be enrolled. The membership fee per year is 
$1.00, and all the receipts go towards purchasing supplies for 
use of the Red Cross Society. 

"The two classes of assistant nurses which have been or- 
ganized here and which have taken the examination are only 
awaiting their certificates from Washington before they will 
be qualified to serve as aides. One of these classes was or- 
ganized by Miss Margot Samuel and the other by Mrs. Pen- 
rose. 

"Miss Samuel's class consists of fourteen, while twenty 
have taken the examination in Mrs. Penrose's class. Instruc- 
tions were given by Miss R. Williamson, trained nurse at the 
Charity Hospital and Dr. Isidore Cohn. Both Miss William- 
son and Dr. Cohn were appointed by Red Cross headquarters 
in Washington to conduct the classes. 

"Six lecturers and demonstrations by Miss Williamson, 
and five lessons and demonstrations by Dr. Cohn comprised 
the course. The lessons were held at the Charity Hospital 
and Touro Infirmary. 

33 



ig iUonograpli 



"When both classes had completed the course, word was 
sent Miss Delano that examinations could start, and Miss 
Delano immediately sent the list of questions which com- 
prised the test. These were put in the hands of Miss Daspit, 
Chairman of the Red Cross Nursing Association in New Or- 
leans, La., who had taken no part in the instruction of the 
classes. Orders were that the questions would remain sealed 
until both classes were gathered ready for the test. The ex- 
aminations were held Tuesday of last week by Miss Daspit, 
and the answers of all members were forwarded to Washing- 
ton, where they will be passed on by Miss Delano and her 
committee, and the successful members will be forwarded 
their certificates of attainment. 

"More classes of assistant nurses will be organized. Mrs. 
Penrose is ready to furnish information to any women who 
desire to form a class. Taking the course and the exam- 
ination does not compel members to serve. There is no en- 
listment and no strings are attached to joining any class, 
though Mrs. Penrose states that many of the women in the 
two classes already examined will take up the work. Those 
who cannot leave the city will lend their aid in preparing of 
equipment. 

"Each class must consist of not less than twelve and no 
more than twenty members. And each class must be in 
charge of a Red Cross nurse, and must take the course adopted 
by the Red Cross Association. 

34 



M^ Uliinograpli 



"Mrs. Penrose will continue the work of class organiza- 
tion, and also will redouble her efforts towards enrolling mem- 
bers in the New Orleans Red Cross Chapter. 

"Following are the names of women of the two classes 
which have taken examinations: 

"Miss Samuels Class — Mesdames George B. Penrose, Wil- 
liam Stewart, Franklin Pugh, S. M. D. Clark, Donald Maginnis 
and Henry Chaffe, Misses Therese Kohn, Laura Hobson, Sadie 
Downman, Elizabeth Carroll, Lucia Miltenberger, Jean Gan- 
non and Dorothy Spencer. 

"Mrs. Penrose's Class — Mesdames William Formento, 
Richard McMillan, Henry Nordell, Carlos Gravenberg and 
Philip Williams, Misses Edith Clark, Elizabeth Lyman, Marie 
Celeste Villere, Eleanore Havard, Katherine Havard, Carrie 
Walmsley, Byrd Walmsley, Margaret Montgomery, Natalie 
Scott, Susie Goodwin, Josephine Witherspoon, Adele Monrose, 
Enriette Lewis and Eliza Mason Smith and Mrs. Penrose. 

"In the beginning of our organization the Times Picayune 
sent Miss Flo Fields to the headquarters to make a report of 
the work that had been covered up to that time, and her 
opinion is expressed in a beautiful conception of a base 
hospital. 



35 



iKg iMonograjili 



"WHAT IT MEANS TO ESTABLISH A BASE HOSPITAL, 
FIRST IN THE SOUTH AT NEW ORLEANS- 
WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION IS 
REQUISITE" 
The address made by our Eminent Physician Dr. Rudolph 
Matas — at the meeting in July 6th, 1916, the copy of which 
was given to me for use at that time. On organizing our Base 
Hospital Unit No. 24. 

"For more than a year, all over large territories of the 
United States, the people, the every-day American People, 
have been weaving with their individual interest, their in- 
dividual service of actual work and their personal offerings 
of money, a strength and a beauty of nationality that is finer 
than any flag that ever swung against the sky. The work 
of American people, civilians of all classes, from all kinds of 
communities, to that single purpose, the caring for the men 
who will pay in blood for national principles — that is the Red 
Cross, a badge of purity that no land in the world has worn 
as this country will wear it. It is destined to bind classes 
and communities as it will bind thoughts into a harmony of 
care. It is the great touch of nature, this American idea of 
sending sectional corps which are from home to see to the 
wounds of the fellows from home — that makes all kin. 

The Great Idea (it is worth capitals) was originally sug- 
gested to the surgeon general of the army. Colonel Jefferson 
Kean, who is director general of the American Red Cross by 
Dr. George W. Crile, of Cleveland. Dr. Crile is now with one 

36 



Ig monograph 



of the Western reserves in France. The army has its medical 
corps, but its doctors are all army men, their work necessarily 
limited. The army naturally can not carry doctors of great 
specialist experience, who work daily in the best clinics, hos- 
pitals and sanitariums of the cities. Therefore, last April, a 
year ago, with the ultimate end in event of war of putting 
to use the medical genius of the country, a congress of physi- 
cians and surgeons was held in Washington, D. C. The result of 
that congress was the formation of a National Committee of 
American Physicians for medical preparedness, with the great 
Dr. William J. Mayo, of Rochester, Minn., as president, and 
Dr. Frank Simpson, of Pittsburg, as secretary. Among the 
thirty representative members of this national committee is 
Dr. Rudolph Matas of New Orleans. 

Our Base Hospital Unit has been equipped, stands ready 
with its professional corps to go somewhere in France. 

The object of the national committee is to obtain 
by the careful work of state committees informa- 
tion for the army and navy about the medical resources of 
communities throughout each state. That is, the number of 
sanitariums, hospitals, doctors and an inventory of the special 
qualifications of individual civilian physicians, so that at a 
moment's call the government would have in its hands, data, 
facts, definite material on which to depend. By canvassing 
the entire medical profession of the United States, the govern- 
ment will gather 200 reserve surgeons and physicians in 
proportion to one million of the population — in all 25,000 

37 



U5g iKnnoQrapli 



efficient medical men to form the army medical reserve corps, 
enrolled for a term of three years and pledged to respond to 
the summons of the surgeon general when needed. 

The state committee of nine doctors for Louisiana is 
made up of Dr. S. M. D. Clark, Chairman ; Drs. W. L. Seeman 
president Louisiana State Medical Society, during incumbency ; 
L. R. De Bys, Secretary Louisiana State Medical Society dur- 
ing incumbency; Isadore Dyer, Herman B. Gessner, Urban 
Maes, C. Jeff Miller, Frederick W. Parham, J. C. Willis, 
Rudolph Matas, member of national committee. 

The work of canvassing the medical profession in every 
state in the Union is still going on. The immediate result 
of this enormous investigation has been the organization of 
civilian base hospital units which began in May of this year 
1917. 

This is how the states register: New York City has pre- 
pared 9 units, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany have given 3 more, 
California 2, Ohio 3, Illinois 4, Colorado 1, Pennsylvania 4, 3 
of these from Philadelphia and 1 from Pittsburg; Indiana 1, 
Louisiana 1, Maryland 1, Massachusetts 3, Michigan 2, Mis- 
souri 2, Minnesota 1. Then individual institutions have units, 
Harvard University, for example. In all thirty-six units are 
to the credit of Americanism. 

The equipment of each unit represents contributions 
amounting to $25,000. 

In the South, below Baltimore, but one hospital base unit 
has been equipped, stands ready with its professional corps 

38 



iiflg m0n05ra|il| 



and has almost filled its rank of enlisted personnel. 

That unit is the New Orleans base Hospital, No. 24 — ac- 
complished under the auspices of the New Orleans Chapter of 
American Red Cross. 

This is the gift of Louisiana by the people of Louisiana 
— the first and so far the only Southern base hospital unit 
organized. 

It is practically ready for France. 

In the New Orleans Mint are stored eighty-five boxes of 
hospital materials. There is $25,000 worth of medical appa- 
ratus, everything needed for operating, tables, instruments, 
X-ray laboratory, etc. There is $4500 worth of surgical sup- 
plies. There is $6000 worth of consumable supplies, such as 
hundreds of pairs of pajamas, operating bed shirts, operating 
leggins, bed socks, shoulder wraps, convelascent gowns, aprons, 
etc. 

So the people of Louisiana through contributions to the 
New Orleans chapter of the American Red Cross have pre- 
pared ready for use, a hospital that will cover 19,000 square 
feet of space, a hospital that will be larger than Touro, that 
will take with it a corps of Charity Hospital and Touro Gradu- 
ates, and a medical staff from Tulane University. 

At the head of the New Orleans base hospital unit, as 
acting director of the unit to remain in charge until it is 
mobilized and he is relieved by a commandant appointed by 
the surgeon general, is Dr. Rudolph Matas. At the present 
time and in temporary service Dr. Matas appointed Dr. John 

39 



T. Halsey, acting as adjutant of the unit, and Dr. 1. 1. Lemann, 
acting quartermaster. Mr. A. B. Tipping is purchasing agent. 
These positions will be taken up permanently by government 
men. Their occupation now is simply a saving of government 
time. The professional personnel of the New Orleans hospital 
unit are : Dr. Urban Maes, assistant director surgeon and chief 
of the operating staff, and Dr. John B. Elliott, chief of medical 
section in the unit and assistant director. The ten captains 
who form the staff of surgeons are : Dr. John Smyth, Dr. Eras- 
mus Fenner, Dr. Joseph Hume, Dr. Charles Chamberlain, Dr. 
S. Paul Klotz, Dr. J. T. Halsey, Dr. Joseph Weis, Dr. I. I. 
Lemann, Dr. Chaille Jamison, Dr. John Lanford, assistant 
director in charge of laboratories. The twelve lieutenants are : 
Oculist, Dr. Charles A. Bahn; in charge ear, nose and throat. 
Dr. Harold A. Kearney; Assistant pathologist and bacteriolo- 
gist. Dr. B. King Raud; Dr. Paul G. Lacroix, assistant staff 
surgeon (ward surgeon) ; Dr. Alexander Ficklen, assistant 
staff surgeon (ward surgeon) ; Dr. Muir Bradburn, assistant 
staff surgeon (ward surgeon) ; Dr. John F. Dicks, assistant 
staff surgeon (ward surgeon) ; Dr. Charles K. Wall, assistant 
staff surgeon (ward surgeon) ; Dr. E. R. Bowie, radiologist ; 
Dr. Oscar Joseph Trappey, dentist; Paul de Verges, dentist 
senior; neurologist, under consideration. 

This shows the personnel of our Base Hospital Unit No. 
24, recorded as the Tulane Unit, now under the authorized 
supervision of Major John Elliott, there the best men of our 
Medical corps answered first call for 'duty' "Somewhere Over 

40 



fflg HHonDsrapli 



There," where they have been actively engaged ever since. 
New Orleans is justly proud of the work they are contributing 
to this Unit. They are nearly all Tulane University men who 
have gone to carry on their part of this great humanitarian 
work. 

DESCRIPTIVE WORK OF THE NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER 

OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN ITS EARLY 

STAGES BY FLO FIELD 

"It is significant that one of the great initial movements 
with which the United States entered the war is of deep, 
practical initiative humanity. 

"It is the organization among civilian communities of 
hospital units to go to Europe and help in the care of our 
sick and wounded soldiers. 

"This means that from every part of the country where 
such units have been formed, there will go everything per- 
taining to a hospital, except the building itself, with a medical 
coi'ps of physicians, nurses and all the personnel, from diet- 
itcians to clerks, cooks, orderlies, chauffeurs, etc., that form the 
working world of a perfectly systemized hospital at home. The 
staff numbers 300 persons. 

"A base hospital carries with it 500 beds. It takes every 
scientific appliance, every convenience, every necessity and 
detail for modern hospital service. The equipment of medical 
supplies is so large that should all of the 500 beds be filled at 
once the soldiers could be cared for one month without re- 
stocking. 

41 



nnagrapli 



"A base hospital is a movable hospital. At any time its 
enormous equipment can be packed and carried to another 
base which receives the wounded. 

"A base hospital is not stationed on the actual fighting 
"front." 

"There are three "zones" for the wounded. The first 
zone to which they are carried on stretchers is merely out 
of the danger line. That is all. There can be no attention 
given. Here they lie until it is possible to get them to the 
second zone — those who survive. At the second zone they 
receive the mercy of tarpaulin covers. Then the work of 
bearing them on to the third zone begins. At the third zone, 
to which they go in ambulances, and where there are a very 
few nurses, they receive first aid attention. Not until then. 
Those who can be patched up at once, whose hurts are not 
serious, return to the battle. The desperately hurt and 
shattered are taken by ambulance to the base hospital, usually 
located in some town. And here they have the real hospital 
care at last. 

"The base hospital corps are at no time in danger. They 
occupy a barracks or hospital building, but they are just as 
ready to take quarters in an art museum or cathedral. As 
the vast battling nucleus shifts, they pack up and follow in its 
wake. Arrived, they are complete. There will be cooks, nurses, 
all the personnel of a local institution. They all know each 
other,and from the same community, their daily life has the 
same language. Surrounded by strange peoples, in a strange 

42 



iHg iUonograiitli 



land they possess that great energy for team work that comes 
of mutual sympathies and environments. 

"A base hospital needs a fund of $30,000 to equip. 

"When organized it becomes a part of the government 
service and its entire staff is salaried. 

"The staff consists of the professional corps, doctors, 
surgeons, specialists who have been called from hospitals 
or medical faculties. These are commissioned officers who are 
appointed in their home locality to go with the hospital unit. 
There is one director or chief surgeon, in charge, five as- 
sistant surgeons, each in charge of a service of 100 beds, 
three assistant surgeons, one orthopaedic surgeon, one genito- 
urinary surgeon, three anesthetists, one pathologist and as- 
sistant, one internist, one neurogolist, one oculist, ear, nose 
and throat specialists, two dentists, two roentgenologists for 
X-ray work. Altogether fifty individuals make the higher 
administrative personnel. The pay of the commissioned per- 
sonnel is ranged according to military rank; for example, the 
director and chiefs of the surgical and medical service will 
grade as major, captain and first lieutenant, a major receiving 
$250.00 a month. Then comes a personnel of 140 men who are 
enlisted in the medical reserve corps but not commissioned. 
These rank from sergeant of the first class with salary of 
$75.00 a month to privates. In this department there is a 
broad scope of requirements. Every sort of employment may 
be represented, and can be utilized. There is a need for cob- 
blers, mechanics, bookkeepers, stenographers, chauffeurs — 

43 



una^vvLp^ 



for how could a hospital base appeal, say, to the French govern- 
ment for an immediate shoemaker or tailor or carpenter? 

"One cannot quite in a moment grasp the magnitude of 
work and workers in a hospital. There must be laboratory 
sections, pharmacy, departments, no end of clerical work, 
even an information bureau. 

"The chief nurse, who consults with the director of a 
unit is responsible for the selection of nurses, and with the 
exception of clerks and stenographers, all women who go with 
the unit. These are: 

Nurses — One chief nurse, one assistant chief nurse, one 
night chief nurse, one charge nurse, operating room; five as- 
sistant nurses, operating room; one charge nurse or dietician, 
one assistant nurse or dietician, one charge nurse linen room, 
thirty-eight medical and surgical wards (28 day, 10 night) 
fifteen reserve not on roll. 

Nurses' aids must be members of the Red Cross. At least 
three of the above nurses should have had some practical 
experience in the care of contagious diseases. 

The nurses receive the same salaries as those of the 
regular army and navy corps. All expenses are paid by the 
government and the salary is "velvet" if one may introduce 
such a word to the sacrifice and sadness of a war hospital 
scene. 

So much then, for the abstract presentment of a civilian 
base hospital unit. 

44 



ig iJJonnQrapI) 



As an idea, an inspiration of efficiency, it is gloriously 
American. 

Never in the history of wars has such a thing been done. 

There are philosophers who will talk to one cheeringly 
of the need of war to shake extravagance out of the Ameri- 
can people. To bring home to the young that a nation is 
destiny, and life is fate, to restore the ideals of wholesome 
simplicity. There are desk-side debaters who maintain that 
we are having war to lower the women's skirts and make 
the children realize that the world is not simply for their 
amusement. These seem trifling morsels of vision to be 
gained through such storms of blood, such long, far reaching 
agonies. But one might better protest that if the war is to 
benefit Americans as a people in their ideals, it is to create 
a brother love, to knit a nation, as sections have been knitted 
together by common purpose and service. 

"It is possible that all the magnitude of work which has 
accomplished the completion of one Southern unit and has 
another New Orleans unit half perfected, would not have 
reached so quick and splendid an outcome had it not been 
the untiring energy and influence of one woman, Mrs. George 
B. Penrose. There is something very lovely in the significance 
that Mrs. Penrose a year or so ago gave the charm of her 
personality to purely the social side of life. But then came 
to New Orleans the nurses' convention of which Miss Jane 
Delano was chairman. It was just one of those seemingly 
small moments of destiny that lead to the fine developments 

45 



Ulg HHonDgrapll 



of energy and interest. Miss Delano asked Mrs. Penrose, 
before she left New Orleans, to begin a Red Cross Chapter 
here. It is only the weak who refuse responsibility and there 
is in this pretty, gently moulded type of Southern woman a 
strength and enthusiasm and belief which her own hard work 
and the big results have proven. So she began to solicit 
members. At parties, afternoons at the Country Club, she 
enlisted the women who make that happy world who can 
golf on week days. She wrote letters to friends and organi- 
zations throughout the state. She made trips herself by auto, 
the car shimmering with Red Cross flags, and wherever there 
showed a possibility of interest and membership, there the 
car came to a halt and Mrs. Penrose and her corps got out 
and talked. Meantime she started in New Orleans a First Aid 
Course and Elementary Hygiene with a Red Cross nurse as 
instructor. There were 20 young women in the class who 
with Mrs. Penrose took the course, in her own drawing room, 
passed examinations and received certificates signed by 
President Wilson and Mr. Taft. Interest had now been roused 
generally. Appeals came in from young people who wanted 
to join classes, the work grew. It was more than one could 
manage. Mrs. Penrose turned for aid to Mrs. Lucien Lyons, 
whose own energy for the task has proved of such inestimable 
value. Mrs. Penrose appointed Mrs. Lyons chairman of sup- 
plies and the work took definite form. There were now 
between 200 and 300 members. The women met, cut out 
hospital supplies by hand and made the garments at home. 

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[g iJJonagraplj 



An executive committee of well known men was formed. 
Actually it was a preparedness committee. Money was con- 
tributed, donations and membership moneys accumulated and 
at last it was no longer an interest of localism, but an asso- 
ciation of power for national needs. A telegram from Charles 
J. O'Connor at Washington, authorizing Mrs. Penrose to or- 
ganize a Red Cross chapter was received. There was a big 
spirited meeting called by Mrs. Penrose and Mr. Frank Hayne 
was elected chairman of the Red Cross Chapter in New 
Orleans. 

The local officers of the chapter were elected at a meeting 
July 6th, 1916 those elected were Frank B. Hayne, chairman ; 
Mrs. George B. Penrose, honorary chairman; P. S. Morris, 
vice-president; W. R. Irby, treasurer; W. J. Leppert, 
secretary; executive committee; Frank B. Hayne, W. R. Irby, 
Mrs. George B. Penrose, Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons, S. P. Walmsley, 
Captain P. S. Morris, St. Clair Adams, Wm. Mason Smith, 
W. E. Stauffer; Board of Directors: Mrs. George B. Penrose, 
Mrs. LeGrand J. Crumb, Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons, Miss Lucia 
Miltenberger, Mrs. Randall T. Dugue, Mrs. (Dr.) F. W. Par- 
ham, J. L. Onorato, Robt. G. Guerard, T. G. Bush, T. J. Walsh, 
C. H. Ellis, Harold W. Newman, N. M. Leach, J. A. Badger, 
John F. Clark, Sam Blum, Lynn H. Dinkins, Jeff D. Hardin, 
Jr., W. S. Penick, Dr. Henry Daspit, R. W. Wilmot, Arsene 
Perrilliat, Ben Beekman, Dr. H. Dickson Bruns. 

Dr. Bruns is chairman of committee on instructions and 
Dr. Frank Chalaron of sanitary training. 

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This chapter covers more than Louisiana. Under its head 
are included Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas and 
comprising the Gulf Division, which is so ably officered by 
Mr. W. J. Leppert, who is director, but formerly our Secretary. 

With the development of Red Cross work into chapter 
formation, there began a busy time for Mrs. Penrose and the 
women associated with her. 

At a meeting in midsummer Dr. Matas, as member of 
the national medical committee, proposed the formation of a 
New Orleans base hospital unit to be sent to France. It was 
the inevitable work for the chapter. Branches were organized 
throughout the country parishes. Of this work for town 
and country, Mrs. Penrose is chairman, while Mrs. 
Lyons holds the no less arduous desk of the sup- 
plies committee. Even at this early date the New Orleans 
Chapter of the Red Cross has established five branches in 
the city. The first branch is the Cadiz Branch, with Mrs. 
R. N. Gourdain Smith at its head. Next in order came Mrs. 
E. Bienvenue, who was aided by Father Prim's generous in- 
terest. At 1516 Esplanade another branch formed by Mrs. 
Horace E. Crump. The Philip Street Branch, under the Kings 
Daughters, with Miss Rees, make up the complement of the 
Working Staff and innumerable others being added each week 
the New Orleans workers. And splendid workers they are. 
At each branch 50 or 60 women a day have given their 
utmost service. All materials for hospital garments are cut 
at the headquarters building 316 Carondelet Street. On 

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the third floor of the building is the cutting room 
and there, on a great long table bolts of material 
are laid out, in thickness of 175 folds, the patterns 
traced on the topmost fold, and the cutting performed with 
an electric hand instrument that plows through the deepest 
wad with more ease than one would have cutting butter. One 
woman has given her daily services to this tremendous job. 
Mrs. J. N. Roussel handles the electric cutter with profes- 
sional surety, 500 garments a day; 175 garments at a time! 
The round blade slithers away with a hum and garments 
that will warm and comfort lads who have yet to suffer are 
turned off to be given out and sewed by members of the local 
branches. Down stairs supplies for the surgical department, 
dressings and bandages, are being cut and wound into rolls. 
There is a subtle sentiment among the women about winding 
the bandages that are to bind wounds that will go deep as the 
heart at home. 

Off somewhere else in the building the boxes are packed 
— still more hand work of stooping, folding, fitting with pro- 
fessional accuracy the cases that are to cross the seas. 

And it is all contributed labor, no salaries, other than 
two or three which demand such services as only salary will 
get, but the great bulk of real labor that has produced the 
New Orleans base hospital unit is given through humane fel- 
lowship. It begins in the dimes and dollars of far-off folks, 
it works up through eflicient service and science, it flowers out 
into a perfection of organization and into that deep cup of 

49 



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lovely meaning will be caught and staunched the young blood 
that is to flow somewhere in France. 

Somewhere in France! The phrase has come to be one 
of heroic mystery, beauty, sacrifice. To somewhere in France 
the Southern base hospital unit will soon be going. It will 
take to French, to British, to Italian, to American soldiers, 
strong, splendid, practical service that is Louisiana's message 
— her expression and her love." 

Too much praise cannot be given to Miss Natalie Scott, 
one of the brightest members of Mrs. Penrose's class, in Ele- 
mentary Hygiene and First Aid, whose earnest endeavors 
seemed to have an object in view even in those early days of 
Red Cross work, and the objective point was France, as soon 
as war was declared. She first went over there in the capacity 
as Secretary to a very high government official, but later 
begged to be released upon seeing how badly in need they were 
of nurses to aid the wounded soldiers at that time: 

"PRAISE N. 0. WAR NURSE IN BRAVERY" 

Miss Natalie Scott shows courage during fighting in 
France. 

Miss Natalie Scott, popular New Orleans girl who has 
been in France for more than a year, along with other nurses, 
has received commendation for unusual bravery, according to 
a report from Julia C. Stimson, chief nurse, American Red 
Cross in France. 

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Major Moorehead, commanding officer of hospital No.- 



reported bravery on the part of Miss Scott on the night when 
B was horribly raided. 

"One wing of the hospital," says the report, "was struck, 
all windows shattered, and several adjacent building complete- 
ly destroyed. In an annex nearby, were several American 
patients who had been part of Miss Scott's responsibility. 
Immediately after the bomb fell and destroyed the intervening 
houses. Miss Scott in the pitchy darkness, crawled over the 
pile of bricks and broken timbers and made her way into the 
annex to see how her patients were and to reassure them. A 
few days later during another raid. Miss Scott, although con- 
pletely worn out, remained day and night at the side of a 
dying American patient." 

Other American nurses who received commendation for 
bravery are: Miss Elmyra Bears, of Cambridge, Mass. (Wal- 
tham Nurses Training School, Waltham, Mass.) ; Miss Louise 
Dildine, of Columbus, Ohio, (Lawrence Hospital) ; Miss Con- 
stance Cooke, of Berkeley, (Children's Hospital and Alexander 
Maternity Hospital, San Francisco), nurses; and Miss Step- 
hens, Miss Harte and Miss Erhet, nurses' aids." 

In mentioning the above I would like to add a tribute to 
a Red Cross Nurse in the present war. She gave her life for 
her country and was martyred by German brutality. Let 
us never forget 

51 



ottograitl; 



Edith Cavell, 
who was killed October 11th, 1915. She died in the full bloom 
of young womanhood and is mourned by those who love her, 
and praised by those who knew the beauty of her self-sacrific- 
ing life. Her insigna of honor was the Red Cross upon her 
breast, the brassard upon her arm, and a Crown of Glory in 
the Great Beyond to which she was so suddenly called. 



62 



CHAPTER IV 




OTWITHSTANDING the work of organizing 
the New Orleans Chapter of American Red 
Cross personally attending these classes, 
there was no lack of interest in getting the 
Red Cross work in shape and all during these 
weary days of discouragement was in constant communica- 
tion with Washington, each letter giving additional informa- 
tion and advice as to how to proceed with the work. After 
securing memberships, as many as I could on my own re- 
sponsibility, the task each day seemed to grow and to be- 
come so gigantic that I finally induced others to co-operate 
with me in this great humanitarian work. 

The first called meeting of any importance was held on 
May 15th, at the Grunewald Hotel, where I explained to the 
best of my ability, the object of the Red Cross work and the 
desire of forming a Red Cross Chapter and the great necessity 
of increasing its membership. On that day, the little group 
of women began showing increased enthusiasm and when we 
adjourned, we decided that a meeting of authorization should 
be held at the Grunewald Hotel, on the evening of July 6th, 
1916. In the meantime, I had written to Mr. John J. O'Con- 

53 



M^ Monagtupl} 



nor, Director of the Central Division, for authority to organ- 
ize. I had previously invited Honorable John M. Parker, to 
be Chairman at this meeting of organization and addresses 
were made by Honorable John M. Parker, Dr. Rudolph Matas, 
Dr. C. Jefferson Miller, Dr. Hamilton Jones and Honorable Wil- 
liam C. Dufour, in place of Mr. Hayne,who was called unex- 
pectedly out of town. 

Hon. John M. Parker's address was: "Work of the Red 
Cross" and read the papers of authorization to organize the 
Red Cross Chapter in New Orleans. Dr. Matas' paper was 
full of eloquence and the subject was: "The necessity of Base 
Hospitals in the Event of War." Dr. Hamilton Jones: "Per- 
sonal Experiences in Spanish-American War." 

Dr. C. Jefferson Miller spoke on "Beneficience of War: 
the Red Cross assistance in accident and storm." 

Mr. Hayne had accepted to make an address but had to 
go on to Washington, so Honorable William C. Dufour served 
on the committee instead of Mr. Hayne and gave his views 
and actual experience in the Spanish-American War and on 
the general knowledge of the Red Cross," "Its benefits and 
objects." 

It might be well to insert here that two days before this 
meeting I was thrown into consternation by not having re- 
ceived direct word from Washington, authorizing me to go on 
with this work. Up to this time I had sent all telegrams pre- 
paid, but I desired to let them see how very much in earnest 

54 



UIg iHonoBrapli 



I was, and accordingly sent an additional telegram of one 
hundred and fifty words, 'collect' to Mr. Charles J. O'Connor. 
His reply came, July 5th, 1916, as follows: 

Washington, D. C, 

July 3rd, 1916 

"Mrs. George B. Penrose, 

Red Cross Chapter, 
New Orleans, La. 
My Dear Mrs. Penrose: 

We have your telegram of July 3rd asking for authorization 
to organize a Chapter. You and persons named in your letter of 
June 6th to Mr. Ernest Bicknell, Director General and Miss Mabel 
Boardman, are hereby authorized to organize the New Orleans 
Chapter of the American Red Cross, with jurisdiction over the City 
of New Orleans, La. A meeting may be called, officers and an 
Executive Committee elected, and the organization completed. 

For a permanent success and securing of a large member- 
ship, it would be found that the active participation of business 
men will be essential. The experience of a number of Chapters dur- 
ing our present membership campaign has demonstrated this fact. 

We trust that the proposed Chapter will be organized and will 
equip a large membership. 

Charles J. O'Connor, 

Assistant Director General Civilian Relief 

I would add that two weeks at least previous to this meeting, 
I expected to hold, I had been in communication with Mr. Frank B. 
Hayne, Chairman and the gentlemen of the Preparedness Committee, 
whom I had asked to actively co-operate with me in the organiza- 
tion of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red Cross and 
whom I had named in my letter to Washington as men who would 
be the substantial back ground, or business men, required when we 
went further into permanent organization. 

55 



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They are as follows: — 

FRANK B. HAYNE T. G. BUSH 

PENDLETON S. MORRIS ST. CLAIR ADAMS 

WILLL^M MASON SMITH ^^ 

ROBERT G. GUEiRARD 

WILLIAM C. DUFOUR T- J- WALSH 

S. P. WALMSLEY PHILIP WERLEIN 

all of whom were invited to attend this meeting at the Grunewald 
Hotel, on the night of Thursday, July 6th, 1916. 

Mr. Hayne, Chairman of Preparedness Committee, was un- 
avoidably prevented from being present, owing to his preparations 
to leave the city, but at a meeting held at the Preparedness Head- 
quarters just a bit earlier than the Red Cross meeting held the 
same day, and just previous to his departure, he and members of 
the Preparedness Committee decided to contribute the first large 
amount as a donation to the Red Cross Chapter in New Orleans. 

The following letter was brought in person to me while I was 
holding the meeting at the Grunewald Hotel, by Mr, W. J. Leppert, 
then Secretary of the Preparedness Committee. The letter reads: 

July 6th, 1916. 
Mrs. George B. Penrose, 

Grunewald Hotel, 

New Orleans, La. 
My dear Mrs. Penrose: 

It affords me pleasure to advise you that the Preparedness Com- 
mittee, at a meeting held at 2 o'clock this day, considered your re- 
cent letter and voted to set aside five hundred dollars, for the Red 
Cross work which your Chapter will carry forward. 

The members of the committee feel a keen interest in the 
splendid work that the National Organization has for so many 
years been engaged in and welcome the establishing in New Orleans 
of a local Chapter as a proper broadening of the work at a point 
where in the past the needs of such a Chapter has been felt. 

The Committee feels that the good work performed by you 
and the ladies associated with you will eventuate into a practical 
preparedness and that should the time ever come when our country's 
needs demand the loyal service of her sons and daughters in fields 

56 



iMg Ulonograpli 



other than those customarily filled by them, your work then will 
stand out as a monument to which all may proudly point. 

1 have the honor Madam, to be 

Respectfully yours, 

THE PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE 
Frank B. Hayne 

Chairman 
In reply to the above letter Mrs. Penrose wrote: 

July 8th, 1916. 
Mr. Frank B. Hayne, Chairman & 

Gentlemen of the Preparedness Committee: 
My Dear Mr. Hayne: 

Your letter of July 6th, advising me that at a meeting held at 

2 o'clock at Preparedness Headquarters, on Thursday July 6th, my 
letter calling attention to the organization of the Red Cross Chap- 
ter had been given their consideration and that you had been 
authorized to set aside five hundred dollars for this work, I beg to 
acknowledge this magnificent donation and thank you and the 
gentlemen associated with you on the Committee, in the name of 
every woman who is on the membership list of the Red 
Cross Chapter. This generous gift of the men with whom you have 
been working will be of great assistance in enabling us to carry 
on this wonderful work "Preparedness" which you have so nobly 
begun. 

I thank you one and all for your kindness and consideration in the 
confidence you have placed in me and in the names of those who 
are members of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red 
Cross. 

Assuring you gentlemen of our earnestness and seriousness in 
this work, and thanking you heartily for your co-operation, now 
begging the continuance of it, as our organization advances into 
the many branches of the work it has undertaken, I beg to remain, 

Yours very truly, 

(Signed) Laura M. Penrose 

Chairman, 
Red Cross Chapter, 

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After Mr. Hayne's departure from the city, on July 6th, 
with his promise to actively co-operate upon his return, a 
little group of women then worked together during the re- 
maining days of summer, each day bringing added interest 
and new members to the organization. 

On July 15th, there was a meeting called for larger mem- 
bership at the Grunewald Hotel, presided over by Mrs. George 
B. Penrose, Chairman, putting before the assembled crowd, 
the necessity of everyone urging their friends to join. 

After a few preliminaries, the meeting was adjourned, 
they then decided to hold weekly meetings, Thursday of 
each week during the Summer at the Grunewald Hotel, for 
increased membership and the buying of supplies. 

The following week, there was a meeting held Thursday, 
July 2nd, 1917, in the gold room of the Grunewald Hotel, 
Chairman Mrs. Penrose called the meeting to order. 
1st — Called to Order. 

2nd — Reading of Minutes of Preceding Meeting. 
3rd — Appointments. 

I beg to announce that at a meeting held in this 
room on the evening of July 6th, at which the Honorable 
John M. Parker as the Chairman read letters and telegrams 
from the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross 
in Washington, D. C, authorizing me to organize a Red Cross 
Chapter in this city and to appoint the necessary officers to 
conduct its affairs and to direct its activities, for temporary 

58 



M^ iJInnograiili 



organization. By virtue of this authority, invested in me in a 
letter and telegram from Washington, I beg to inform you 
that I have made the following temporary appointments: 

MRS. GEORGE B. PENROSE, Chairman MISS CARRIE WALMSLEY, 

MRS. WM. MASON SMITH, Cor. Secretary 

Vice-Chairman 

MRS. LUCIEN E. LYONS, Treasurer MRS. LEGRAND CRUMB. 
MRS. WM. J. O'DONNELL Chairman of Supplie. and Hospital 

Rec. Secretary Garments 

You note that for our treasurer, a position of great trust 
and responsibility, I have appointed our highly esteemed 
friend, Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons. In addition to the officers 
named, an assistant body of thirty women of which Mrs. 
Randall Dugue is the Chairman, has been selected to co- 
operate in this work. 

The meeting of July 6th was addressed by Honorable 
John M. Parker, Dr. Rudolph Matas, Dr. C. Jefferson Miller, 
Dr. Hamilton Jones, Colonel William C. Dufour. 

For the benefit of those who were not present at that 
meeting, I desire to announce that through Mr. Frank B. 
Hayne, Chairman of Preparedness Committee, a check for 
Five Hundred Dollars was presented to us towards creating 
a fund for the purpose of beginning a Base Hospital unit in 
this city. The doctors who so kindly contributed to the suc- 
cess of this meeting by their presence and encouragement, 
in recognizing the urgent necessity of this great work in New 
Orleans, have assured me of their united support and willing- 
ness to give every assistance to the success of this under- 
taking. As the work broadens and advances in its growth, 

59 



fHjl ill0no5ra|jlj 



towards the establishing of a base hospital, it will be necessary 
to select an Executive Committee to be composed of the rep- 
resentative men of New Orleans, this committee is to be 
selected with the view of furthering the work of the Red 
Cross Chapter by their influence and by their substantial as- 
sistance. 

For the benefit of those who do not fully understand the 
meaning of a Red Cross Chapter, I will read the following 
from the official rules and regulations from the Red Cross As- 
sociation. 

"A Chapter is a permanent local organization which rep- 
resents all the local activities and agencies of the Red Cross. 

"A Chapter may be said to be the Red Cross in epitome. 

"Members of the Red Cross within the territory of a 
Chapter are automatically members of the Chapter and vice- 
versa — a portion of the membership dues is retained by the 
Chapter for its own use within proper restrictions." 
4th. Reading of communications received. 

Letter of Mrs. Frank B. Williams with donation. 

Letter of Acceptance, Mrs. Wm. Mason Smith. 

Letter of Mr. M. B. Trezevant on the subject of a lecture 

by Mr. Dixon. 

Letter from Capt. P. S. Morris, Acting Chairman of Pre- 
paredness Committee in the absence of F. B. Hayne, 

Chairman. 
5th — Reading of Reports. (Call on each of the following to 

read reports:) 

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fflu iHanograplj 



The Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman Membership Com- 
mittee, Chairman of Bridge Party Committee, Chairman 
Woman's Work and Surgical Dressings Committee. 

6th — Announcements — I have been requested to say to you 
that Mrs. Robert Haddon, a member of the D. A. R., has 
invited us to attend a meeting at 2 P. M., Thursday 20th, 
in Grunewald Hotel to endorse Mrs. Bankston as one of 
the candidates as Manager of the N. 0. State Fair. This 
Red Cross Chapter is of such recent organization it is 
believed that the best interest of the Chapter would be 
served by remaining neutral and not lending its influence 
in the selecting of these candidates, and if there is no ob- 
jection to so inform Mrs. Haddon. 

7th — Adjournment. There being no further business before 
it, and there being no objections, this meeting stands 
adjourned to 10 o'clock Thursday week, July 27, 1916. 
The meeting was then adjourned, until the following 
Thursday, and weekly meetings were held during the 
Summer Months. 

I would here insert that from the large attendance at 
the above enthusiastic meeting, the membership dues began 
to increase to such an extent that it was felt necessary by me 
to open an account at the United States Trust and Savings 
Bank in the name of the New Orleans Chapter of the 
American Red Cross, where I deposited immediately, all cash 
on hand. On this occasion, I then introduced my newly elected 
treasurer, pro tem, who had been given the power to sign 

61 



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all checks stipulated to the President and Vice-President of 
the bank to be counter-signed by me, then temporary chair- 
man. 

MR. WILSON DECLARES WAR WITH MEXICO. 

In the Spring of 1916 there was great activity in the 
Armory of the Washington Artillery, in securing recruits 
among the young men of New Orleans, as the troubles and agi- 
tations in Mexico had then reached the height of its intensity, 
and had taxed the endurance of the United States to the point 
of calling a halt. Actuated by feelings of great patriotism, 
many of the men signed up and were most enthusiastic in 
getting others to follow their example, thereby taking part 
in the service which was of a most trying character for a 
young soldier to experience, every man in the official roll 
giving the best there was in him to help protect the border. 
Soldiers worked hard and seriously when everything was in 
a turmoil, comfort was an unknown quantity, but they had 
cast their lot as soldiers and had to carry on" to the bitter 
end be it for their weal or woe; for those who had the in- 
stinct of the rare fighting spirit would rather die than "give 
up." 

With the serious situation on the Mexican border, we 
then found it necessary to send out an emergency call for the 
making of quick supplies to be sent to the Washington Ar- 
tillery then stationed at Donna, Texas, and other equipment 
to completely outfit the crude little hospital then in use for 
the service of our boys in the Washington Artillery. 

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Ml^ Mono^xnpl^ 



Knowing the condition to be far from satisfactory and 
the utter lack of all necessary articles to equip the hospital 
even as modestly as our funds would permit, through my per- 
sonal appeal to one of our most prominent doctors, a message 
was sent to the physician in charge of the little wooden school 
house and his answer came in these words : 

"Donna, Tex., Aug. 12, 1916. 
Western Union Telegram 

Dr. Rudolph Matas, 

New Orleans, La. 

Your wire seventh to hand. Everj^hing needed! Send bouillon cubes, 

canned soup, ice caps, and hot water bags, white enameled cups 

and plates, two bed pans, beds and pillows, two urinals. Many 

thanks. Letter follows. 

(Signed) Doctor Garrett 

It was then that I called the Committee for Emergency 
work, and with quick results, Mrs. Lyons, Mrs. Crumb and I 
packed these things with as little delay as possible, delivering 
them ourselves in an automobile to the express office, pre- 
paying express on the boxes and labeling every one sent with 
the glorious insignia of the Red Cross, for we were proud and 
happy that our first shipment should be to the Louisiana* 
Soldiers on the border. 

This call was responded to and it might be of interest to 
inform those actively engaged in it that the supplies sent out 
from the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red Cross 
was to the Washington Artillery, (now 141st Regiment U. S. 
A.) for said hospital, on the border and in addition to the 
above the things sent consisted of a complete equipment of 

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beds, bedding, pillows, surgeons aprons, pajamas, beef ex- 
tracts and delicacies of requisite requirements; hospital sup- 
plies, consisting of hot water bags, ice bags, thermometers, 
bed pans and innumerable necessary articles. After the hos- 
pital had been made as comfortable as possible, then with the 
assistance of Mrs. Walter R. Stauffer, Mrs. S. P. Walmsley, 
we secured a Chaplain, (under the co-operation of Archbishop 
James Blank) fully equipped by private donations, with 
everything necessary to maintain him for an indefinite time. 
The Chaplain, Rev. John Vigliero, of Patterson, Louisiana, 
was untiring in his zeal for the men with him, and he was 
every inch a soldier himself in the uniform of the U. S. A. 

The next work I considered most necessary and to which 
I pledged my hearty support was the "Assembly Tent Fund," 
to partially protect the soldiers from the intense heat in mid- 
day, when as a rule, they were allowed a few hours off duty, 
"for rest, recreation, and time to write letters home. This 
was a popular fund, for everybody's heart went out to those 
who had willingly signed up for duty at the first call from 
President Wilson, when he deemed the time had come to pro- 
tect the Border from the possibility of the Mexican invasion. 
Through the courtesy of the "Times-Picayune" I opened up 
a list that the mothers, wives, sweethearts and friends 
might subscribe. As I said before, it was a popular appeal, 
and in each mail checks and money would come from those 
far away from home, who were heartily in sympathy with 
the movement. Through Mr. Pederer, of the New Orleans 

64 



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Tent and Awning Company, a specially designed assembly tent 
of 105 feet diameter was then ordered. To which was added 
3 water (filters, 175 steamer chairs, cards and games in- 
numerable, tables and uniforms for the foot-ball team, cash to 
furnish electricity and furnish lumber for flooring of the tents. 
I cannot fail to mention here the great generosity of Dameron 
& Pierson in sending as a gift of friendship to the boys 
who had gone to the border, all the writing paper they could 
use, beautifully stamped, with pens, ink, and everything 
necessary to make the heart of the soldier happy. 

I must not refrain from adding that through the energy 
of Miller King, of the Washington Artillery, and the willing 
generosity of the friends of that command, Mr. King ordered 
through the firm of Edward R. Greenlaw, a four thousand 
five hundred dollars Automobile Truck, to be sent to Donna, 
Texas, to the commanding officer, to lessen the burden of the 
men whose duty it was to transfer heavy machine guns and 
other freight. This was a wonderful presentation to the men 
of our city who had answered the first call to fight on the 
Mexican border, from their friends at home. I would like to 
mention that Mr. Greenlaw generously contributed his com- 
mission on the sale of the Truck and assisted the boys in 
many other ways. But by some "fiasco" the Truck was 
shipped to Donna, Texas from New Orleans C. 0. D. believing, 
or thinking that the government would defray all expenses 
of the delivery there. Such was not the case, however, and 
after paying demurrage for this truck at the freight depot 

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at Donna, an appeal was made to me through the Tent Fund 
I had collected and it gave me great happiness to send a 
check of $169.98 as quickly as possible, through the U. S. 
Savings Bank & Trust Co., only too happy that it was in my 
power to help out, with the amount that remained of the Tent 
Fund. 

This work was continued from week to week, and the 
crucial moment had then arrived for the bringing together 
of the executive committee as the body of men who had 
promised to be the substantial background of the organiza- 
tion, with the return of winter calling those who had been 
away for the summer, back to Red Cross activities. 



66 



CHAPTER V 




HE latter part of November an appeal was sent 
to Mr. John J. O'Connor, Director of the 
Central Division, by the Chairman, Mrs. 
George B. Penrose, asking that he might as- 
sist in the permanent organization. Under 
authorization from Washington the following call was sent 
out broadcast, for the meeting to be held at the Grunewald 
Hotel on December 1st, 1916. At the same time at 
Mrs. Penrose's request, a copy of by-laws was sent 
from Washington and Chicago, from which permanent 
by laws were made by the New Orleans Chapter, voted on 
and accepted. In the meantime the women had occupation 
and plenty of work to keep their willing hands busy until 
the return of the men in the fall and winter, when the ques- 
tion of permanent organization was then again taken up and 
the executive committee of the New Orleans Chapter awaiting 
the arrival of John J. O'Connor, Assistant Director General, 
Headquarters in Chicago, who had promised to be in New 
Orleans by December 1st, 1916. 

Shortly after Mr. Hayne's departure to North Carolina 
for the Summer another letter was written by me to this 

67 



iMg iManngrapli 



same Preparedness Committee, a copy of which I will insert 

herein : 

New Orleans, La. 
Mr. Frank B. Hayne & 

Members of the Preparedness Committee 
New Orleans, La. 

Gentlemen.- 

The rumor has come to me indefinite in a way, that after the 
glorious work of your Preparedness Committee has been completed, 
you propose to disorganize. 

Ever since this information was conveyed to me, I have been 
imbued with the idea that your body of men is the support the 
Red Cross Chapter requires behind them as a tower of strength in 
organizing Red Cross in New Orleans and the Base Hospital Unit 
that Dr. Rudolph Matas so thoroughly and graphically described in 
his address at our meeting of July 6th. I refer to this meeting 
specifically, as our organization calls for an Executive Committee 
and as strong and well organized a one as we can possibly secure. 

With the women standing at the wheel ready to do the hard 
work and the men forming the background with their brain and 
their executive ability, we could soon have a Red Cross organiza- 
tion of which entire State of Louisiana would be proud. 

The little fund we already have on hand with donations added 
in various ways, from time to time would increase our account, as- 
suring us of success, glorious success in the near fututre. But re- 
member gentlemen, in union and union only is there strength. 

I hope, most sincerely, you will give this your consideration and 
advise us if we can hope for the continuance of your good will, 
your advice and your co-operation as a executive body. 

I beg to remain 

Yours very truly, 

(Signed) Laura M. Penrose, 

Chairman N. O. Chapter A. R. C. 
68 



iJIy iUanngrapli 



July 10th, 1916 
Mrs. George B. Penrose, 

Chairman, Red Cross Chapter 
New Orleans, La. 

My Dear Mrs. Penrose: 

Your two letters of July 8th, addressed to Mr. Frank B. Hayne, 
Chairman of the Preparedness Committee, received. 

Mr. Hayne left town yesterday hut on the last meeting of the 
Preparedness Committee on July 6th, I was selected as Chairman 
for this Committee during Mr. Hayne's absence, hence Mr. Hayne 
has referred both of your letters to me for attention. 

We appreciate most highly the kind expressions contained there- 
in and we are most heartily in accord with the work that you now 
have in hand. 

I am much pleased to advise you that our Committee has not 
dissolved neither will it be dissolved probably for a considerable 
time. In reading the letters at the next meeting, I will take great 
pleasure in bringing your communication to its attention and will 
advise you concerning same. How soon this meeting will be held, 
I do not know. 

On behalf of the members of the Committee, I beg to assure 
you that they will take great pleasure in doing anjrthing possible 
to advance the cause in which you are so deeply interested. 

Believe me, with very high esteem. 

Yours very truly, 

(Signed) P. S. Morris, 

Vice-Chairman 
69 



Ulg Ulonograpli 



August 7th, 1916. 
My dear Mrs. Penrose: 

Referring to the conversation with you last Friday night 
at the Grunewald Hotel, after considering the matter further, the 
letter which you wrote to Mr. Hayne, I feel the better way would 
be for your letter to be presented to the Committee, which will be 
done at a very early day. 

In order that the question may be fully considered and understood 
thoroughly, I would suggest that you advise as to what the duties of 
an advisory board, such as referred to by you, would be. In conver- 
sation, you mentioned some others who were already on your advis- 
ory board. 

I would appreciate in order that we may act with full information, 
the names of those members. 

If you will kindly let me have this information to-morrow morn- 
ing, I will endeavor to give you a reply at an early moment. 

Yours very truly, 

(Signed) P. S. Morris. 

August 8th, 1916. 
My dear Mrs. Penrose: 

Referimg to my letter to you of yesterday, I regret not having 
received the information asked for therein, today, as there was a 
meeting of the Preparedness Committee this afternoon and to which 
I read your communication regarding the Red Cross Chapter, as 
explained to me by you. 

The committee expressed their perfect willingness to co-operate 
in advising in any way they could, but would be much pleased to 
know in what respect they would be called upon to act, and I would 
appreciate it if you would kindly advise me concerning this. 

While there will not be another meeting of the Preparedness 
Committee for some time, I will be much pleased to see the mem- 
bers who expressed themselves this afternoon and explain to them 
further advising you concerning this subject without delay. 

Yours very truly, 
(Signed) P. S. Morris 
70 



iHg MonoQxnpli 



August 8th, 1916 
My dear Mrs. Penrose: 

Dear Madam: 

Your letter to our Chairman, Mr. Frank B. Hayne, asking that 
the members of our Committee co-operate with the Red Cross Chap- 
ter in an advisory capacity was considered at the last meeting. 

It was the sense of the meeting that gentlemen identified with 
the Preparedness movement would gladly do all properly within their 
power to further the interest of your organization and I am directed 
to say that we would appreciate it if you would furnish us with the 
names of other gentlemen who will also act as advisors and will 
indicate in a communication, exactly how this committee can best 
meet the wishes of yourself and your co-workers. 

Thanking you for your very splendidly phrased letters of com- 
mendation we beg to assure you that we stand ready to aid you as 

much as possible. 

Respectfully yours, 

(Signed) W. J. Leppert, Secretary 

Preparedness Committee 

New Orleans, La. 

August 8th, 1916 
Mr. P. S. Morris, Vice-Chairman and 

Members of the Preparedness Committee; 
My Dear Mr. Morris: 

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 7th, re- 
questing me to answer same by the next morning. 

I tried immediately to reach you by phone at your office, later 
left a message at your home, to tell you how impossible it was 
for me to give you the information you desired on such short notice, 
as I had previously made business engagements I could not break, 
in connection with the Red Cross Work. 

I regret more than I can say the Preparedness Committee held 
their meeting without the information I desired so much to have 
conveyed to them and I appreciate your offer to see them individu- 
ally for me in behalf of the Red Cross Chapter, In your letter you 

71 



Iflg iManngrajili 



say that "in order that the question may be fully considered and 
understood thoroughly, I would suggest that you advise as to what 
the duties of an advisory board, such as referred to by you would 
be." Referring to my letter of July 7th, to Mr. Frank B. Hayne, 
that I hope you will read to the members of the Preparedness 
Committee for information. One of the first requirements of the 
National Headquarters of the American Red Cross at Washington, 
is that the Red Cross Chapter of New Orleans must have a body 
of representative business men form a substantial background to 
the organization. While it is true that a business man of large 
interests may hesitate to undertake the Chairmanship of a Chapter, 
they can co-operate by forming themselves into an Executive Com- 
mittee for assistance and advice. In the American Red Cross in 
Washington, D. C, some of the most eminent and busiest men of af- 
fairs have become members of the Executive Committee. The suc- 
cess which has been attained by all Chapters in securing remark- 
able memberships and raising large funds, has been accomplished 
by the most prominent men in the United States, co-operating in 
Red Cross Work. Again and again the value of the business man 
whose sound judgment is needed has gained these results. One 
of the reasons for having business men take the lead in Chapter 
affairs is that the Chapter in the beginning of its organization has 
to appeal frequently for funds and supplies to the business men or 
to know that they will aid them if it becomes necessary. 

As soon as the Chapter is organized, the work can be divided 
between the Committee on Civilian Relief and the Committee on 
Military Relief and the medical body with such representative men 
as Dr. Rudolph Matas, Dr. Hamilton Jones, Dr. C. Jefferson Miller, 
who have said they will assist in every possible way towards raising 
funds for the Red Cross Chapter and the Base Hospital unit. 

With a competent body of women who have been selected as 
temporary officers, I feel the work will be so systematized and 
divided that in a short time it will not be a burden to any particular 
committee, but instead a joy to all those who have promised al- 
legiance to the Red Cross Chapter, in New Orleans as they see 

72 



IHg ilH0no5rapl| 



a monument as a result of their united work in the shape of a 
Base Hospital unit and its supplies and equipment. 

Even though the trouble with Mexico is temporarily allayed, 
we must not be persuaded into the belief that the danger of War 
has been altogether averted. It may not be today or to-morrow 
that we will be called upon for supplies-we hope it will never be, 
but with this great port of New Orleans, and with the possibility 
of attack from so many different directions, the only sane or wise 
plan that suggests itself to me at present is Preparadness in time 
of peace that we will not be tried and found wanting in the turmoil 
and excitement incidental to still harder preparations in time of 
War. I beg gentlemen, you will give this your consideration, and 
be the background the Red Cross is so much in need of to make it 
the substantial organization it hopes to be. 

In conclusion, I would like to say it was suggested in a recent 
letter to me from Charles J. O'Connor, Assistant Director General, 
Civilian Relief, that in organizing, we co-operate closely with the 
members of the State Board of Louisiana, who are: 

CHARLES JANVIER JOHN G. GANNON, 

W. RADCLIFFE IRBY JOHN M. PARKER 

I take co-operation to mean consultation on state affairs out- 
side of the local affairs under Executive Committee of the New 
Orleans Chapter. 

With appreciation of your kindness and interest and hoping 
for a reply at your earliest convenience, I beg to remain. 

Yours sincerely, 
(Signed) Laura M. Penrose, 

Chairman 

The meeting on December 1st, was called to order by Mrs. 
George B. Penrose, Chairman, who after a few introductory re- 
marks, invited Mr. Frank B. Hayne to be the permanent Chairman 
of the New Orleans Chapter American Red Cross. 

Mrs. Penrose was then appointed Honorary Chairman, P. S. 
Morris, Vice-Chairman; W. R. Irby, Treasurer; Mr. W. J. Leppert, 
Secretary; Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons, Chairman of Supplies. 

73 



fHg iManograpli 



Following Mr. Hayne's address was one given by Mr. John J. 
O'Connor, Director General of Central Division, with Headquarters 
in Chicago. 

Mr. Hayne introduced Mr. John J. O'Connor, who then gave a 
brilliant talk of the Mobolization of New Orleans from the view- 
point of the Red Cross. His address was eloquent in explaining and 
making clear the different branches of the Red Cross, pointing out 
on the Chart graphically, different departments of the Red Cross 
that would develop when the New Orleans Chapter broadened its 
lines into the various branches. The meeting was then adjourned 
by Mr. Hayne and the Executive Committee met the following day 
at 4 o'clock, December 2nd, 1916 at Grunewald Hotel, to go into 
organization the first time; and then elected the following officers: 
Committee elected December 2nd, 1916: This Committee working 
earnestly for more than a year to bring this N. O. Chapter to its 
present great efficiency. 

This Committee was elected and working earnestly for 
more than a year. 

OFFICERS 

MRS. GEORGE R. PENROSE. 
Honorary Chairman 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MISS LUCIA MILTENBERGBR 

FRANK B. HAYNE. Chairman MRS. RANDELL T. DUGUE 

W. R. IRBY, Treasurer MRS. (DR.) F. W. I'ARHAM 

W. J. LEPPERT, Secretary J. L. ONORATO 

ROBT. G. GUERARD 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE „ RUSH 

FRANKB. HAYNE ^; j / ^^^SH 

C. H. ELLIS 

PHILIP WERLEIN 

N. M. LEACH 

J. A. BADGER 

JNO. F. CLARK 

SAM BLUM 

LYNN H. DINKINS 

JEFF D. HARDIN, Jr. 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS W. S. PENICK 

MRS. GEORGE E. PENROSE DR. HENRY DASPIT 

MRS. Le GRAND J. CRUMB R. W. WILMOT 

MRS. LUCIEN E. LYONS ARSENE PERRILLIAT 



W. R. IRBY 

MRS. GEORGE B. PEiNROSE 

MRS. LUCIEN E. LYONS 

S. P. WALMSLEY 

CAPT. P. S. MORRIS 

ST. CLAIR ADAMS 

WM. MASON SMITH 

"W. E. STAUFF-ER 



74 



iMy manngrapl) 



After the meeting and election of oflicers at the Grune- 
wald Hotel, December 2nd, 1916. A few days later the follow- 
ing letter was received from the Secretary W. J. Lcppert. 

Mrs. Geo. H. Penrose, December 15th, 1916 

307 Carondelet Street, 
New Orleans, La. 
Dear Madam: 

In order that the financial end of the local chapter will be ar- 
ranged on lines set down in regulations and with the view of re- 
lieving you of the cares of tliat end of the work, the Executive 
Committee has recjuested that I ask you to deliver to Mr. W. R. 
Irby, our Treasurer, whatever funds you may have for account of 
the New Orleans Chapter. In doing this, I take the liberty of 
suggesting that you separate the amounts which properly belong 
to the Chapter exclusively. 

For my individual record, 1 will thank you to advise whether 
you have remitted to Washington Headquarters as yet, any of their 
share of membership dues. If you will be good enough also to 
send to me the list of members of the association already secured 
by the ladies who co-operate with you, I could be enabled to make 
up my records in this respect. 

In doing this if I can serve you in any way, I will be glad to do 

it. I beg to remain. 

Respectfully yours, 

W. J, Leppert, Secretary 

It would be well to mention that shortly after Mr. 
Leppert's letter was received the women turned their organi- 
zation to the newly elected members of the Executive Com- 
mittee, free of expense, including the membership secured up 
to that time, and the sum of $3,500 (minus incidental ex- 
penses) secured from "The Gambol of the Gods" Musical Ex- 
travaganza. 

75 



Ulg Mona^rnp^ 



Mr. Mason Smith, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, 
was given a check for the full amount in the bank, and from 
that time the finances of the Red Cross have been steadily 
increasing under the able managment of officers elected on 
December 2nd, 1916. 

From this time on, the success of the New Orleans Chapter 
was assured and the volunteer workers came in numbers to 
apply for duty in all the different departments of the well 
equipped Headquarters. We had moved into a larger build- 
ing, 316 Carondelet Street, and a few changes had been made 
in the heads of departments and committees. We had the 
efficiently work of Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons, Mrs. Leonora Had- 
den being elected to fill the place made vacant by Mrs. 
Lyons resignation as Chairman of Women's Work. Miss 
Lucia Miltenberger later filling the same position with 
great satisfaction, and Mrs. Charles F. Buck who is 
untiring in her splendid systematic methods, is the present 
chairman of supplies. 

By appeals sent to Washington a year ago, by those most 
interested in Red Cross Work the Gulf Division was located 
in New Orleans, now covering the states of Louisiana, 
Mississippi and Alabama. 



76 



IMh iJlonograpIi 



GULF DIVISION AMERICAN RED CROSS 
NEW ORLEANS, LA. 



DIVISION STAFF 

LEIGH CARROLL, Manager 
H. J. JUMONVILLE, Assistant 

PRODUCTION SUPERINTENDENTS 

MRS. I. H. STAUFFER, Inspection 

MRS. EDW. C. MOORE, 

Surgical Dressings 

MRS. J. N. ROUSSEL, 

Hospital Garments 

MRS. B. C. PERKINS, 

Knitted Garments 

MRS. GEORGE DENEGREt, 

Refugee Clothing 

BUREAU OF PUBLICITY 

FRED E. HAMLIN, Director 
EDITH S. CALLENDER, Assistant 
LOUIS CORMIER, Assistant 

BUREAU OF SUPPLIES 
S. J. SHWARTZ, Director 
H. T. BUNN, Assistant 
H. L. RICHARDSON, Supt. of Warehouse 

BUREAU OF MILITARY RELIEF 

H. T. HOWARD, Director 

L. LEON VILLERE, Assistant 

JAMES M. OWENS, Camp Service 

MRS. R. E. FOSTER, Canteens 

MRS. JOSEPH HASPEL, Motor Corps 

DR. B. A. LE'DBETTER, First Aid 

MISS LOUISE J. DE L. CARRIE 

Secretary 

BUREAU OF DEVELOPMENT 
HARRY GOODMAN AND PETER JUNG, 

Associates 

MISS OLIVER HEWITT, Secretary 

CHARLES O. WHITE, 

Field Organization 

MRS. A. H. GLADDEN, Jr., 

Junior Activities 

E. N. MALLORY 

Supervisor Manual Training 



BUREAU OF DEVELOPMENT 

(Continued) 

MRS. C. H. MOBERLY, Director 
ALBERT KRAEMER, Assistant 

(In Charge of Salvage and Shop) 

BUREAU OF CIVILIAN RELIEF 

H. L. HOPKINS, Director 
W. J. LEPPERT, Assistant 
G. P. WYCKOFF, Assistant 
MRS. C. M. EUSTIS, 

Communication Service 

BUREAU OF PERSONNEL 

MRS. C. W. WELLS, Director 
EDWARD C. MOORE, Associate 

STATE REPRESENTATIVES 

J. A. FOSTER, Lake Charles, La. 

A. H. VAN HOOK, 

Commercial Nat'l Bank, Shreveport 

GEORGE C. SWEARINGEN, 

Jackson, Miss. 

E. B. WILLIAMS. Meridian, Miss. 

B. W. GRIFFITH, 

First Nat'l Bank Bldg., Vicksburg, Miss. 

D. A. HOLLOWAY, First National Bank 
Bldg., Montgomery, Ala. 

JUDGE W. M. WALKER, 917 First Nat'l 
Bank Bldg., Birmingham, Ala. 

J. H. MACCORMICK, Mobile, Ala. 

BUREAU OF NURSING 

MISS L. AGNES DASPIT, R. N. 



Director 



MISS B. PACE, R. N., Assistant 

BUREAU OF ACCOUNTING 

H. J. JUMONVILLE, Director 
L. F. BARRIER, War Fund 
E. A. MARTINEZ, Chapters 
D. R. GANNON, Cashier 



77 



CHAPTER VI 




HE New Orleans Chapter, American Red Cross, 
has prepared upwards of several hundred 
thousand surgical dressings and as many- 
hospital garments. This is the result of the 
activity of the women in organization who 
are giving up the major part of their time in making the 
Chapter's apportionment of garments and supplies. The 
figures given above were contained in a statement prepared 
by Frank B. Hayne, Chairman of the New Orleans Chapter 
was presented to Henry P. Davison, Chairman of the War 
Council of the American Red Cross, on the occasion of his 
visit to New Orleans several months ago. In that statement 
Mr. Hayne showed that in addition to the activity of the 
Red Cross women, the Chapter has equipped the Base Hospital 
Unit No. 24 which is headed by Major John B. Elliot, Jr., 
and which is now "Somewhere in France having received 
orders some time ago for embarkation for duty in foreign 
lands. 



Mr. Hayne presented his statement to Mr. Davison at a 
conference with National Officer and members of the Execu- 
tive Committee of the local chapter held in the Grunewald 
Hotel, in February 1918. 

78 



Ulg iEonagrapli 



Among other things the statement contained the follow- 
ing: 

"New Orleans Chapter American Red Cross was organ- 
ized when the situation in Mexico demanded that a Red Cross 
Centre be brought to the South. Up to February of the cur- 
rent year, the Chapter performed duties carried on entirely by 
the efficiency of the women workers. In February, however, 
the people of New Orleans and the population adjacent there- 
to realized the importance of the Red Cross and the absolute 
necessity for such an organization and the result of this has 
been continuous activity on the part of hundreds and 
hundreds of noble women who have unselfishly performed 
their patriotic duty, aiding so materially in the successful 
establishing of the New Orleans Chapter. 

"The first important undertaking by the New Orleans 
Chapter in the plan of re-organization which became effective 
in December of this year, was the equipping of Base Hospital 
Unit No. 24. This was accomplished through the aid of popu- 
lar subscription by the people of New Orleans and the terri- 
tory within the jlirisdiction of the New Orleans Chapter. 
The Unit has left New Orleans under command of Major 
John B. Elliot, Jr. The Unit is thoroughly equipped, contain- 
ing every article required by the most modem and up-to-date 
500-bed hospital, from ambulances and sterilizers to the most 
delicate surgical instrument. The unit carries with it as 
magnificent a personnel as any unit that has been or will be 
sent from any part of the United States." 

79 



Ifflg iHiinojjrapli 



Mr. Hayne explained that New Orleans Chapter expended 
upwards of $100,000 in equipping Base Hospital Unit No. 24. 
"Of that amount" he said, "$54,000 was spent in the Hospital 
equipment, and the remainder in furnishing the necessary 
supplies that were made by the patriotic women of the local 
Red Cross Chapter. The Chapter has also provided a fund 
of $200 monthly through the period of the war to meet the 
contingent expenses of the Base Hospital Unit No. 24. This 
money is remitted direct to Major Elliott for his administra- 
tion. 

"Immediately upon the completion of Base Hospital Unit 
No. 24, our Chapter undertook the fulfillment of the work 
assigned it by the National Organization, and it is with great 
pleasure that the Chairman formally reports to you the com- 
pletion of the first and second units and the practical com- 
pletion of the third unit. 

We have complete approximately 100,000 surgical dress- 
ings and approximately 70,000 hospital garments, the majority 
of which have been packed and shipped to the warehouse in 
this section. 

"The New Orleans Chapter has completed approximately 
400 sweaters, 200 helmets, 200 pairs of wristlets, 100 mufflers 
and 110 pair of socks. The Chapter has distributed upwards 
of 2,000 sets of steel and amber knitting needles which means 
the Chapter will fill its allotment of knitted articles, for we 
have in the process of making hundreds of sweaters and other 
knitted articles. There are being delivered to Headquarters 

80 



mig IHonagrapli 



daily a large number of sets of completed knitted articles and 
just as fast as they are being received by us we in turn are 
delivering them packed and ready for shipment, to the Mint 
Warehouse, 

At the present time the principal activity of the Red 
Cross workers in the New Orleans Chapter is centered on 
knitted articles and surgical dressings, all in conformity with 
the request of the National Headquarters through the Gulf 
Division. 

"New Orleans Chapter has practically completed its al- 
lotment of Christmas packages; for December 1917, the first 
shipment requested for distribution among the soldiers in 
Europe having already been made. We have been successful 
in accomplishing this through the splendid co-operation and 
generosity of the members of the city, and town, and country 
branches. 

"New Orleans Chapter is composed of branches in the 
city of New Orleans, and thirteen branches in country dis- 
tricts comprising the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Jef- 
ferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. 
John-the-Baptist, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and 
Washington. 

"There are approximately 5,000 members — may be 
more — enrolled in the various classes in New Orleans Chapter. 
Active preparation is under way for the Christmas mem- 
bership drive and assurances can be given here that the 
New Orleans Chapter will secure the allotted membership just 

81 



iflg Ulono9rapl| 



as handsomely as was done by New Orleans and the adjacent 
territory in the great War Council drive last June, 1917 — 
when the city exceeded its apportionment by nearly $175,000 

AUDITORS SUBMIT REPORT ON RECENT 
RED CROSS DRIVE 

Monday, May 27th, 1918 

New Orleans District Gave $1,279,969 to Mercy Fund 

The total subscription to the second Red Cross war fund 
raised in New Orleans is $1,279,969.86. This includes the sum 
raised in the city proper, and in the thirteen parishes in the 
jurisdiction of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red 
Cross. 

Formal announcement of the figures was made Monday 
by Robinson, Havener & Co., auditors and accountants, who 
managed the subscription end on a volunteer basis. The 
figure is declared surprisingly large, when it is considered the 
first quota for New Orleans was only $395,000. Subsequently 
it was increased to $550,000, and then to $750,000. The "over 
the top" percentage made by the New Orleans committee is 
among the greatest in the United States, and shows New 
Orleans and the adjacent territory is 100 per cent Red Cross. 

Of the total amount subscribed in the New Orleans juris- 
diction, the people of New Orleans proper gave $1,051,618.25. 
The parishes subscribed $228,351.59. St Tammany parish led 
the country parishes by subscribing $38,742.19. Jefferson 
came second with a total of $29,700.78. Terrebonne was third 

82 



M^ monagrapli 



was $26,295.45. Other parishes in the New Orleans jurisdic- 
tion were as follows: Tangipahoa $24,193.61; Washington, 
$23,004.82; Ascension, $14,585.66; St. James, $14,300.72; 
Plaquemines, $12,772.08; St. Bernard, $12,406.19; Assumption 
$9763.17; St. John the Baptist, $4406.82; Lafourche, $14,- 
180.10 ; St. Charles, $4000. 

"The credit for the success of the New Orleans Chapter 
in the main, belongs to the noble and patriotic women of the 
Red Cross in New Orleans. The Chapter has been particularly- 
fortunate in having the assistance of several hundred women 
who are giving their time to this cause by working through 
Headquarters and the splendidly organized branches. Not 
forgetting the wonderful co-operative work accomplished by 
the Bank of the Money League. 

CARES FOR FAMILIES OF NEW ORLEANS 

FIGHTERS IN GROWING NUMBERS 
Home Service Section of Red Cross Doing Notable Work 
The Home Service Section of the New Orleans Chapter, 
American Red Cross, is performing a wonderful service among 
the dependents of soldiers and sailors. It is one of the most 
important branches of the local Red Cross and though the 
department, established under direction of Frank B. Hayne 
and the Chapter Executive Committee, has been in operation 
less than a year, hundreds of families have been served and 
kept free from want until the remittance comes from the 
father, the son, the brother or the husband, who was the 
provider before entering the fighting service. 

83 



M^ HHntinBtapli 



More than a thousand cases are receiving the attention 
of the volunteer workers in the Home Service section, com- 
posed of some of the most prominent women in New Orleans. 
The section with headquarters on the second floor of the old 
Hibernia building, 806 Gravier street, is under the direction 
of Chas. I. Denechaud, as chairman ; Miss Elizabeth Dinwiddie, 
as executive secretary and Mrs. A. C. O'Donnell, as assistant 
secretary. 

The Red Cross representative daily come in contact with 
the families of the country's fighting forces. These visitors 
go to the homes of dependents, distribute funds, give helpful 
advice, see that the children are cared for properly and receive 
the necessary school training; and above all, see that the 
family is kept from want, until the soldier or the sailor re- 
turns home to take up his work as the family provider. Home 
Service tides over the anxious interval. 

"The New Orleans Chapter is also performing a most 
important duty through the Home Service Committee of the 
Civilian Relief Committee of which Charles I. Denechaud, is 
Chairman. Through the Canteen Committee of the De- 
partment of Military Relief Canteen work in New Orleans 
has been very efficiently developed in the Chapter by the un- 
tiring efforts of Mrs. Rufus E. Foster assisted by Miss Marion 
Monroe, and a splendid corp of workers who have been at- 
tending to the wants of thousands of soldiers passing through 
the city from the various camps. To give a demonstration, 
they work with military precision, and are always on the 

84 



M}$ iHonograpli 



alert. On a certain night not many months ago there were 
several canteen workers on hand at their headquarters when 
they received word that 610 officers and men would arrive at 
midnight from Camp Beauregard, but as usual the train was 
late and it was not until three o'clock in the morning, after 
an 18 hour ride they pulled into the station, which meant 
that 610 hungry men must be fed with hot chocolate and 
sandwiches. The New Orleans canteen was started last fall 
with Mrs. Rufus E. Foster as Commandant and Miss Marion 
Monroe, Chief Officer. The canteen is at 304 Carondelet Street. 
It looks like a comfortable living room with carpet, and 
benches upholstered in "khaki." A squad is on duty every 
day and when large numbers of soldiers are passing through 
New Orleans a general call is sent out. 

MRS. BELMONT TIFFANY FIRES FRENCH "75" 
AT FOE TRENCH 

While Working Day and Night For Red Cross Canteen She Serves Coflfee 

and Sandwiches To Battery After Which She Pulls the Trigger on 

Shrapnel Shell — Previously She Had Narrowly Escaped Being 

Hit in Bombardment by Germans 

Paris, May 10. (By Mail.)— Mrs. Bellmont Tiffany, of 
New York ; Sterling Beardsley, of New York and Palm Beach, 
and James Oliver and Mooney Wheeler, of Pittsburgh, worked 
ten days and ten nights at a Red Cross canteen with practi- 
cally no sleep, caring for retreating French and British 
soldiers and the mass of civilian refugees who streamed 
through Compiegne during the early days of the German of- 
fensive. 

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Beardsley, whose duty it is to organize Red Cross units 
in the field and get them started in full operating order, had 
just arrived in the neighborhood of Compiegne on the eve of 
the enemy's drive. He was organizing a canteen at a certain 
place north of Compiegne. Oliver and Wheeler were with him 
to take over the outfit he had established it. 

Mrs. Belmont Tiffany was visiting that section of the 
front and inspecting Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. units when 
Hindenburg's blow fell. 

In the first stride forward the Germans occupied the 
place where Beardsley had intended to open his canteen, and 
a large supply of stores, as well as several motor trucks and 
automobiles, fell into the enemy's hands. Beardsley, Oliver 
and Wheeler got away in an automobile, donated to the Red 
Cross by Mrs. B. D. Spilman, of Warrenton, Va., and it was 
that car that they used for the ensuing two weeks in bringing 
up their supplies and in distributing them. It was the only 
piece of rolling stock that the Red Cross had in that region, 
as the roads were so choked with troops and guns it was im- 
possible to get other machines up from Paris or elsewhere. 

Mrs. Belmont Tiffany had been at the front and narrowly 
escaped being hit in a German bombardment with long range 
guns. She was taken back to Compiegne by the French staff 
officer accompanying her on her trip, and there she met 
Beardsley, who was organizing his base, supply station there 
as a canteen. Mrs. Tiffany volunteered to help him during 

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the rush and her services were eagerly accepted, as Oliver 
and Wheeler were the only others on the job. 

Beardsley stocked up the automobile with cigarettes, 
chocolate and tinned goods and toured in various directions 
out of Compiegne, distributing these articles to the weary 
soldiers. Beardsley covered the districts near to the town in 
the daytime, and then ran up nearer to the front, in the 
Noyon-Lassigny region, at night. He was practically always 
under fire from the enemy's six-inch guns, as the Germans 
were continually sprinkling roads and villages far behind the 
lines with shrapnel and high explosives. 

On one occasion Mrs. Tiffany was riding with Beardsley 
as they were carrying coffee as well as sandwiches, and she 
had to hold the big tub steady as the little automobile skidded 
around shell holes in the road. 

They stopped directly behind a French battery of seventy- 
fives which was emplaced in hastily dug gunpits, directly at 
the edge of the road. They served the gunlayers and officers 
with coffee and sandwiches and distributed cigarettes and 
chocolate, which the French gratefully received. The battery 
they were told had been falling back for eight days, stopping 
two or three times in every twenty-four hours to shell the 
advancing Germans. They had not lost a gun, but had suffered 
heavily in casualties among the gun crews. 

She Fires a "Vy" 
Mrs Tiffany stooped and picked up the brass shell base 
of one of the projectiles which the battery had fired, but the 

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French lieutenant in charge bade her throw it away. Then 
he snapped out an order and his crew rammed home a shell 
in the breach of one of the pieces. The lieutenant beckoned 
Mrs. Tiffany to approach the cannon. Then he showed her a 
lever and motioned her to move it. 

She did, and the wonderful little gun barked viciously, 
the barrel leaped back in its oil bath recoil absorber, and a 
three-inch shrapnel projectile went screaming northward 4000 
yards among the enemy. The lieutenant picked up the smok- 
ing oily metal case of the projectile just fired, which had been 
automatically ejected from the breech. He scratched the date, 
the place, the number of the battery and his name in the brass 
with his diamond ring and handed it to Mrs. Tiffany as a 
souvenir. 

"I suppose we will be called up on the carpet eventually 
because we distributed some supplies which were intended 
only for Americans to French and British soldiers and to 
women and children — poor French refugees from the country 
where the fighting was going on," said Beardsley. "These 
troops certainly appreciated something to smoke, and some- 
thing to eat when I handed over the chocolate and sandwiches. 
Frequently they were not permitted to halt at all. Then we 
would stand at the side of the road and their officers would 
let them deploy into single file so we could hand every one 
of them something." 

"The Lady with the Cocoa Jug." 

Who can tell the limits of the influence of willing sacri- 



ottD^rapli 



fice, of principle, on the scale of this agonizing experience? 
Just after midnight I came into a broken village, just behind 
the front, in which the only decent shelter was the shed of 
a "foyer du soldat," or soldiers' club, run by a French-Ameri- 
can Y. M. C. A. committee. Reliefs were groping their way 
through the misty twilight, and I was dreaming over old and 
happy far-off things, when a soft voice startled me by asking, 
in English, if I would like a drink of cocoa. The speaker, 
dressed in a black gown, was carrying a big jug in one hand 
and a clean condensed milk tin in the other. 

You who see hundreds of thousands of women daily will 
not realize how surprising was this apparition on the edge 
of the battlefield, and I cannot hope to conquer the feeling 
of the inspiring story that explained it. Miss Smalley, the 
solitary keeper of this lone canteen, is a daughter of the 
late W. T. Smalley, a New York author and journalist, who 
was run over and killed in London in the course of one of the 
air raids. The Smalleys were of the number of Americans 
who thought their country should have been in the war from 
the outset. When the other women workers were withdrawn 
from the battlefront some months ago Miss Smalley persuaded 
the authorities that she was particularly fitted to remain, 
and here, among the passing soldiery of half a dozen races, 
she keeps her nightly vigil. Does it seem an inglorious task 
to make ten gallons of cocoa on a small alcohol stove, and 
dispense it on old tins at a street comer ? British and American 
women side by side with their allied sisters, are doing such 

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work all over France, and earning the blessing of weary men. 
For my part, without grudging Florence Nightingale any of 
her fame, I would put as high as the picture of "The Lady 
with the Lamp," in the Scutari Hospital, the picture of this 
"Lady with the Cocoa Jug" in a wrecked village of Compeigne. 

RECLAMATION AND SALVAGE 

Labor Day was one of actual labor for the members of 
the Reclamation Department of the New Orleans Chapter 
which was recently opened on the second floor of the new 
building at 339 Carondelet Street. We want many patriotic 
women in New Orleans to aid in the work of repairing the 
clothing of the soldiers and ask especially that the mothers, 
wives and sisters of soldiers who can do so to sign up and 
help the work along. A big consignment has been secured 
from the Quartermaster's Department and the work must be 
expedited. Another department of the Red Cross Chapter 
is the Salvage Department occupying the building at 619 
Barome Street, under the direction of Mr. S. A. Seelye, 
promises to develope into one of the most important branches 
of the local oragnization. Mr. Seelye and his force already 
have begun an active campaign to rid New Orleans of all 
waste paper, scrap iron, rags, old gold and silver, burned out 
electric lamps, dental fillings, all metals, metal-foils burlap, 
bottles, type-writer supplies, automobile tires and other 
articles deemed unfit for use. Mr. Seelye specialized on Tire 

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Day. Make these days speed along that the Boy Scouts fre- 
quently help and the Junior Red Cross members help to col- 
lect these innumerable things for the Salvage Corps. 

LEE CIRCLE MONUMENT 
September 17, 1918 

"Tire Day," Tuesday, will be the time to get rid of all 
rubber articles that are useless about the household. Every 
pound of rubber in the form of casings, inner tubes, dolls, hose 
and other articles, delivered to Lee Circle, "Tire Day," will 
be converted into money by the New Orleans Chapter of the 
Red Cross. The money will be used in caring for the de- 
pendents of soldiers and sailors, in purchasing material for 
bandages and surgical dressings, material for hospital gar- 
ments and toward the maintenance of the organization. 

"Tire Day" is the first feature arranged by S. A. Seelye, 
chairman of the Salvage Bureau of the local chapter of the 
Red Cross. Following "Tire Day" the Salvage Bureau will 
arrange a number of other features and among them will be 
a drive for old gold, silver, precious metal, and scarf pins. 
Tin foil, old rope, burnt-out electric bulbs, silks, bric-a-brac 
and other articles discarded by the family will be given a 
special day. The Red Cross will receive these articles at the 
headquarters at 619 Baronne street. 

Everybody contributing to "Tire Day" is asked to tag 
the article discarded, the tag bearing the name and address 
of the donor. Auto owners who are without used or worn-out 
tires are requested to visit Lee Circle on "Tire Day" and pur- 

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chase a tire for $1, the purchased article to be turned over 
to the Red Cross. The amount realized through this source 
will be used to further the work assigned to the organization. 
The rubber will be sold on the ground, thereby eliminating 
the cost of transportation to the Salvage Bureau's warehouse. 



September 11th, 1918. 
Mrs. George B. Penrose, 
Hotel Schuyler, 
New York, N. Y. 
My Dear Mrs. Penrose :- 

We wish to acknowledge your telegram of even date and in reply 
beg to state we are now perfecting organization of the Salvage 
Corps under direction of Mr. S. A. Seelye. This department will be 
opened formally on Tuesday, September 17th, when "Tire Day" will 
be observed. We have selected Lee Circle as the point where auto 
owners and dealers will deposit tires and used rubber of every 
character. In advance of this day, we have arranged with junk 
dealers to purchase the rubber as it is delivered to the Chapter at 
Lee Circle. This will save the Salvage Corps cost of handling and 
transportation to warehouse. 

We have concentrated our efforts on "Tire Day" and because 
of this we are unable to give much intelligent information on the 
subject. We can say, however, we have located the warehouse at 
619 Baronne street, and have engaged 10,000 feet of floor space to 
accommodate the needs of this department which we hope to make 
one of the most important, from a financial point of view, in the 
Chapter's activities. We are going into the Salvage business on a 
most intensive scale. We have the co-operation of Mayor Behrman, 
numerous other city officials, the school authorities and the heads 
of the police and fire departments. This means the Salvage Corps 
will have the use of the police and fire stations, and all school houses 
in connection with the collection of waste matter that will be con- 

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verted into money by the Red Cross. We have the assistance of the 
large corporations, department stores, banks, etc., and judged by 
the progress made in the preliminary arrangements, we are certain 
the Salvage Corps will be a distinctive feature of the Red Cross. 

Only recently the Chapter opened its department of Reclama- 
tion of Soldiers and Sailors garments. This department is located 
in the building, 339 Carondelet street, and is in charge of Mrs. L. F. 
Hadden who works directly under Mrs. Charles F. Buck, Jr., Chair- 
man of Women's Work, and who, in turn, receives instructions from 
the Gulf Division and the Quartermaster's office U. S. A. This 
department has been in operation a few weeks only, but already we 
have reclaimed a sufficient number of garments to clearly indicate 
the success of the work both from a practical and economical point 
of view. We have had some difficulty in getting volunteers to work 
in this department, but the work is steadily growing and we believe, 
in time, will be of great aid to the Federal government in reclaim- 
ing all garments worn by the sailors and soldiers. The women are 
taking greater interest in the work as they feel they are rendering 
a service that is very helpful in the cause we are fighting for. Mrs. 
Buck is giving the department much of her attention; in fact the 
entire Executive force is assisting in the development of this im- 
portant work. 

Trusting this information will be of service to you and with 
expressions of respects, we beg to remain 

Yours very truly. 

New Orleans Chapter ARC 
FRANK B. HAYNE, Chairman 
Emile V. Stier, 

Secretary 



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ORGANIZATION 

From the beginning of its organization the New Orleans 
Chapter has had five women who have filled the positions of 
chairman of Woman's Work. The first being 

1st: Mrs. LeGrand Crumb 

2nd: Mrs. Lucien E. Lyons 

3rd: Mrs. Lenora Hadden 

4th: Miss Lucia Miltenberger 

5th: Mrs. Charles F. Buck 

at the very beginning of the organization when it took the 
combined efforts of this little group of women to make the 
Chapter a success; all the above mentioned women worked 
hard and faithfully and gave up their entire time towards 
securing the present efficiency of the Red Cross and one who 
cannot be forgotten for her untiring zeal and interest in the 
original Cutting Department is Mrs. J. Numa Roussel, whose 
zeal and interest was only surpassed by her preserverance 
and her amibiality of disposition. 

Since we have discussed organization in the beginning 
we come to consider the motive power that makes organiza- 
tion successful. The foundation of enterprise, production and 
progress is morale, that intangible, indescribable force which 
is created when a group of human beings strive together 
for the attainment of an ideal. 

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AN APPEAL BY MRS. AUSTIN R. BALDWIN 

It is the Red Cross spirit, the Red Cross morale, that 
makes the growth and efficiency and power of the Red Cross 
Work Room. A Work Room is not only a place where Red 
Cross supplies are made. It is a mission station where Red 
Cross methods, purposes and ideals are exhibited for everyone 
to see. It is where the public comes most constantly in con- 
tact with the Red Cross. The penalty for any act of dis- 
courtesy or indifference on the part of a worker is visited 
upon the whole organization. You rarely hear anyone say 
"So and So was rude to me at such and such a Red Cross 
Work Room-," but "The Red Cross was rude," The individual 
is forgotten, but the act is remembered. Therefore it is the 
duty of everyone who wears the Red Cross uniform to exemp- 
lify as far as is humanly possible the Red Cross spirit. 

In no branch of Red Cross work has the Red Cross spirit 
more scope for activity than in the Work Room. The first 
task of the Work Room after it is organized is to build up 
morale. The first step towards that end is to secure workers, 
and as the workers are nearly all volunteers, the recruiting, 
treatment, and training of volunteers is of paramount import- 
ance. An ideal volunteer is regular, punctual and industrious. 
These virtues are demanded from a class which has seldom, 
since school days, been asked to submit to the discipline of 
regularity, punctuality and sustained industry. To the paid 
worker the prospect of steady work is a pleasure; to the vol- 
unteer it is too often a nightmare. 

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In the recruiting of volunteers the faculty of looking at 
things from another's point of view is very necessary. Any 
sign of a desire to work must be encouraged and stimulated. 
When a volunteer offers to devote two hours a week to Red 
Cross work, and is overcome at the greatness of her sacrifice, 
it must be remembered that from her point of view she may 
be doing something wonderful. It is the opportunity of the 
Work Room to make the work mean so much to her that she 
will come oftener and stay longer, until she is a full-time 
volunteer. And the price of a trained, full-time volunteer is 
above rubies. 

At the Model Work Room volunteers are not asked to 
pledge themselves for any definite time, and they are per- 
mitted to choose the work they prefer to do. Pains are taken 
to encourage them and to make them realize that they are 
needed. They soon hear of the large allotment of work to be 
done, they see the necessity for their help and they learn 
the real satisfaction of being useful. 

The unwritten demands of the Red Cross upon the full- 
fledged worker are severe. There must be no gossip, no jeal- 
ousy, no dissension in the Work Room. Gossip of all kind 
must be eschewed, not only personal gossip but discussions 
about the war, items of news about the army or navy, or any 
mention of things that may give comfort to the enemy. 

To be efficient it is necessary that the work be carried 
on harmoniously. Here is an opportunity for daily heroism. 
Everyone will agree that jealousy and quarrelling are singu- 

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larly out of place in a Red Cross workroom. Unfortunately 
they are sometimes found there. Jealousy is perhaps the 
most universal human fault, and it is very difficult to deal 
with, being unreasonable. It shows itself in num- 
berless forms and is extremely detrimental both to the work 
and to the worker. The best method of obtaining things is 
to deserve them. 

People often obtain things they do not deserve, but they 
seldom retain them for any length of time, a fact which ought 
to prove consoling to the jealous disposition. 

Sometimes two people seem to be naturally antagonistic 
and find it hard to agree. If it is possible to separate them 
this is the easiest and wisest course to pursue. If separa- 
tion is impossible and they are obliged to work together, an 
appeal to their reason and sense of duty must be made. They 
can be reminded that if they were men and had been drafted 
they could not choose their companions in the trenches. The 
workroom is their trench. In spite of every difficulty, for 
the sake of their work and their country, they must force 
themselves to reconcile their differences. The emblem on 
their uniform, the flag under which they serve, is the Cross, 
and the Cross is today, as it has been for a thousand years 
the symbol of sacrifice. As long as they wear it they must 
live up to its demands. Very seldom is this appeal to the 
Red Cross spirit made in vain. No workroom can be success- 
ful if the workers quarrel among themselves. Deliberately 
to tear down what they themselves have built up is stupid 

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behaviour, under any circumstances ; but in a Red Cross work- 
room it is inexcusable. Difficulties ought never to rise which 
cannot be harmoniously adjusted. It is through discipline of 
mind and body that morale is built up. The proper discipline 
must be worked out and administered by the heads of work- 
rooms. Upon them rests a heavy responsibility, not only 
towards Red Cross work, but toward the individual worker. 
They must teach and exemplify that the Red Cross spirit 
should be universal, that it is manifested equally by kindness 
to a fellow worker here, as by work for a soldier over there, 
that it should not be put on or taken off with the uniform, 
nor limited in its exercise to the workroom. If each Red Cross 
worker submits willingly to discipline the result will be a 
morale in the workroom that nothing can impair. 

In Frederick Palmer's latest book "Two more years of 
War" is mentioned, the fact that when General Haig was 
asked what he desired most for the British soldier, he 
answered, "The spirit that quickeneth." We have been priv- 
iledged to live in a time of unexpected strain and stress ; never 
before have there been such sorrow, suffering and horror in 
the world ; never before have women and men had such oppor- 
tunities for sacrifice and service. Greater demands for both 
are creeping nearer to us day by day. The hardest part of 
the War we have yet to face. Are we ready? Are we pre- 
pared in our minds and souls to do our utmost? Not only our 
hands are needed but our willing hearts. The idea] of the 
Red Cross is before us, its daily work is here for us to do. 

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What we must pray for is the spirit that quickeneth, to give 
us strength, endurance and victory. 

The above appeal comes from a Southern woman, of the 
Bisland family of Natchez, Mississippi, in New York known as 
Mrs. Austin R. Baldwin, Vice-Chairman of the Model Work 
Room, meaning Woman's Work. Through the courtesy of the 
New York County Chapter, Mrs. Baldwin's splendid appeal 
now becomes ours, and with all the experience she has had, 
it seems a fine tribute to the sweet Southern woman that it 
should be repeated in the Southland, the place of her birth, 
and eventually taken to Natchez, the home of her girlhood. 

MOTOR AND AMBULANCE CORPS 
The Motor and Ambulance Corp under Command of 
Captain Edith Haspel, and her Adjutant, Lieutenant May 
Moore has been co-operating wonderfully in the various de- 
partments under which they serve. This is a well organized 
Division of the Red Cross, one that requires the greatest ef- 
ficiency, untiring zealous energy. Captain Haspels Corp has 
worked with such military precision, during its period of ser- 
vice, as to merit the congratulations of civilians and soldiers 
alike, in caring for the men who had to be transported to the 
various convalescent hospitals. Recently an order received to 
report to Jackson-Barracks. 

Captain Haspel was in command and her adjutant. 
Lieutenant May Moore (Mrs. Lucas E. Moore, Jr.) read the 
orders. Major Huhner, in command of the hospital read per- 
sonal letters of commendation from the government for the 

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splendid work done by members of the organization during the 
influenza epidemic. Major Elmer Swanton, Quartermaster 
Department, U. S. A., presented the colors and Captain Edith 
Haspel responded. 

The ambulance drivers who were awarded certificates for 
splendid work during the epidemic, issued by Major G. M. 
Corput and presented by Colonel Willis, U. S. A., commanding 
officer at Jackson Barracks, were Mrs. George Westfeldt, Mrs. 
Henry Chaffe, Mrs. Clifford Lyons, Mrs. Stanley Morse, Mrs. 
James Menefee, Mrs. Balmer, Mrs. Bradford, Misses Edith Mc- 
Cay, Beatrice Moulton, Belle Seawell and Beulah Levy. 

Members of the corps receiving certificates for their work 
in the Jackson Barracks Hospital, nursing and first aid, were 
Mrs. Paul Saunders, Mrs. Eugene Roberts, Mrs. Jeff Moore, 
Mrs. J. M. Gwynn, Mrs. F. Craig, Mrs. E. Lob, Mrs. Gaizin, 
Misses Ethel Alexander, Elmire Janin, Marie Mason, Byrd 
Walmsley and Marcelle Grima. 

Among members of the corps who were made sergeants 
are Miss Marguerite Ellis, Miss Martha Bradford and Mrs. 
Henry Bunno, Mrs. Paul Saunders, Mrs. Lydia Mehaflfy and 
Miss Helene Israel received the commission of second lieuten- 
ant and Miss Anne Myrtle Seago received a first lieutenant's 
commission. 

The military band from the Jackson Barracks furnished 
music during the afternoon and closed the event with "The 
Star-Spangled Banner." 

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RECONSTRUCTION 

The news from our American Soldiers under General 
Pershing, coming to us each day seems good indeed, yet we 
must not be too hopeful, or feel that we can let down when 
after Peace has been declared, that will be the time the real 
work will begin, over here, and we who have been following 
the Stars and Stripes, in sentiment, will have to stand behind 
the men who may need us more than ever. You will be 
brought face to face with this work of reconstruction, this 
rehabilitation, of our man power, of those who are left of 
our fighting forces to return; Are we ready to remodel their 
minds, give them a new hand, or arm, and help them re- 
gain their shattered strength? We must begin to realize the 
situation and this new problem of reconstruction that is 
staring us in the face. These wonderful men who have sacri- 
ficed their all for us, have made it possible for women 
and children to live in this country undisturbed, with peace 
in our hearts and purity in our lives. As I said before, are 
we ready to give them these things in return? If not let us 
face the problem of reconstruction for we have to be ready 
when our turn comes. It has been my experience since coming 
East to be brought in close touch with a number of the 
stalwart young American soldiers who have been wounded; 
those on the threshold of young manhood who are sufficiently 
convalescent from their terrible wounds received overseas, to 
be allowed out of the hospital, lending their aid in the Liberty 
Loan Sale. Some of them suffering from shell shock, others 

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from the effects of being gassed, a few totally blind, one 
young engineer, only 23 years old, with a piece of shell passing 
through his lungs, others with the loss of an arm or a leg, 
and sometimes it being necessary to amputate both limbs, 
leaving nothing but the trunk and the body of the man above 
the waistline intact, with all his mental faculties unimpaired 
but without physical strength, and a desire of living, blighted 
by an affliction that will remain with him for the rest of his 
life. Many of these look wan and thin with their terrible 
sufferings, and show the effects of the strain through which 
they have passed. To prepare fully for the rehabilitation of 
these men from overseas we must lose no time and take up 
each case as they are invalided home. The correct way of 
looking at the situation is, the crippled men who have pre- 
viously been in the laboring class, or the disabled soldier who 
was originally in the financial world, have so much in common 
in the way of their mutual woes that the sympathy of every 
big hearted man or woman should go out to them unreservedly 
to help in this rehabilitation in giving them some incentive 
in life toward training them in some specialized work by way 
of their being self-supporting and to give them an interest in 
their occupation so as to distract their minds from their dis- 
abilities. 

As the American Red Cross is such an important aux- 
iliary to our armed forces, and is also extending relief not only 
to our people at home but to the people of the nations as- 
sociated with us, who are suffering as a result of the war, I 

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hope that every man connected with the work, either at home 
or abroad, will have a full appreciation of its great importance. 

And now there is a thought to be given here to the 
mothers who are bearing the greatest burden of the war — 
the mothers who brought the soldiers into the world, and 
are still bringing them into it, to fight for their country. God 
help and pity them for it is they who are bowed down and 
helpless, while they send their boys on to fight, they would 
not have it otherwise. 

After reading "A Minstrel of France" by Harry Lauder, 
it is not inappropriate here to insert the beautiful lines of 
dedication to the memory of his son, Captain John Lauder. 
Aye, his son and other sons can be remembered in his won- 
derfully phrased words of tenderness — outbursts of his heart, 
love and memory. 

"Oh! there's sometimes I am lonely 

And I'm weary a' the day 

To see the face and clasp the hand 

Of him who is away, 

The only one God gave me, 

My one and only joy. 

My life and love were centered on 

My one and only boy. 

I saw him in his infant days 
Grow up from year to year 
That he would some day be a man 
I never had a fear. 

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His mother watched his every step 
'Twas our united joy 
To think that he might be one day 
My one and only boy. 

When war broke out he buckled on 
His sword and said : "Good-bye" 
For I must do my duty dad 
"Tell mother not to cry," 
"Tell her that I'll come back again" 
What happiness and joy! 
But no, he died for "Liberty" 
My one and only boy. 

THE END 



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